Northern Cape learners received 20,000 bicycles at the start of Transport Month to improve school attendance.

On Monday (7/10), Transport, Safety, and Liaison MEC Bentley Vass and Head of Department Rodney Pieterse officially launched the month at the Kimberley Weighbridge on the N12.

It was first commemorated in 2005 to raise awareness of the crucial role of transport in our economy, to encourage participation from society and business, and to make mobility accessible, reliable, and affordable.

Police members at the Kimberley Weighbridge before roadblock, Picture supplied

“Transport Month seeks to highlight the role transport plays in our daily lives,” said Vass. “As government, we’ve been (given) the responsibility to ensure that the transport system in the Northern Cape runs smoothly to help with economic growth and job creation.”

In her speech, Mrs D. Modise, from the Transport Operations Directorate, mentioned the Northern Cape will host a series of events, including the promotion of non-motorised transport, a school aviation competition, and the promotion of sobriety campaign in the transport Domain.

One of Monday’s highlights was the K78 Roadblock and the handover of 20,000 bicycles to learners by the department. Vass also shared and expressed his concerns with matters concerning the state of the Northern Cape’s roads and how imperative it is for residents to abide by traffic law enforcement rules.

MEC Vass alongside police officers at the Roadblock on the N12, Picture supplied

Meanwhile, Free State Community Safety, Roads and Transport MEC Jabu Mbalula also shared a heartfelt message to the province’s transport industry.

“Transport ferries the working class to their jobs, and thus allows them to provide for their families. It connects loved ones across distances and reinforces the very bonds that make our communities stronger.”

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony mvh