It was all smiles when 200 donkey cart users from remote rural communities in the Vhembe District received harnesses from the executive mayor of the Vhembe District, Cllr Falaza Mdaka.

This was during the launch of Animal Drawn Carts in the Vhembe District held at Tshipise tsha Sagole Youth Centre last week. The campaign is being run by the provincial Department of Roads and Transport and district municipalities.

The Animal Drawn Carts project was introduced in the face of the many crashes or accidents caused by these carts that occur on our roads on a frequent basis. This is an attempt by Government to promote the development of rural transport, as it was neglected in the past. The government issue of social development led the government to support the ADC in communities, as many people cannot afford private and public transport, even if that transport is being subsidized by Government. The project was launched for the first time in the Waterberg District, and is also in progress in the districts of Capricorn and Mopani.

Currently, 600 carts have been fitted with reflective materials, harnesses and number plates in the above district municipalities.

Two hundred carts per district were procured by the department and two local municipalities in Vhembe were identified as using that type of transport. Mutale received the largest share as more and more people in the area rely on donkeys for transportation; they received 125 of the harnesses while Musina received 75.

Speaking during the occasion, Mdaka said domesticated animals had always played an important role in people’s daily lives. He said they had been used as early as the 16th century as an effective tool for transportation and domestic use, like ploughing the fields, and had been found to reduce accidents. It is also a way to save on gasoline and electricity.

He said the carts could also be used in local economic development as foreign guests will opt for them because they are tired of seeing and using Western transportation, and this could in turn be a source of revenue. Mdaka urged the recipients to look after the animals. "These animals need to be well fed and trained before being used. Treat them as a valued asset as they make life easier for you," he said.

Mdaka also urged the recipients to abide by the rules of the road and to follow all the requirements for the carts. "We would like to improve visibility of animal-drawn carts and we therefore encourage all users to wear white clothes whenever they use their carts. In doing so, we will improve road safety on the roads," he said. He further urged vehicle users to be patient on the road to provide animal-drawn carts enough time to cross or to share the use of the road. Mdaka also called for the training of all the users in order to minimize accidents.

An ecstatic elderlyman, Mr Ramakokovhu of Tshipise, who was one of the recipients, said the gesture would make a big difference in his life. "We are not working and we come from very disadvantaged backgrounds. With these harnesses, I will be in a position to start a small business that can sustain me and my family," he said.