The MEC of the Department of Roads and Transport in Limpopo, Mr Justice Pitso, officially handed 160 bicycles to poor learners of Mavalani High School, at an event that was held at the school premises of Bonwani Village in the Giyani area last Friday.

Pitso said that 2 900 bicycles had been made available in the entire province for learners from previously disadvantaged backgrounds who are traveling long distances to school on foot. “It is and has always been our duty to ensure that all the learners of Limpopo arrive at school safely all the time. The department is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that transport is accessible to all.” 

He further outlined that the Shova kalula Bicycle Project was introduced with a main objective of focusing on the scholars in rural areas who travel long walking distances without means and affordability or access to public transport.

The principal of Mavalani High, Ms Meserea Mahungu said that it was very sad to see that learners at her school who come from Bonwani village on foot every day were having tough times as they never attended school during rainy seasons. “Now that the government has provided them with bicycles, they will enjoy normal schooling throughout the year,” she said.

The parents of the learners, who also attended the event, expressed their happiness to Mirror, saying that it was a good thing to see that traveling on foot for their children was now a thing of the past.

Pitso urged the learners during the event to always take care of the bicycles as they will be driving them into their future.

One of the recipients, a 15-year-old girl, Hlulani Hlungwani from Bonwani village, said she could not believe it when she was told that she was going to receive a free bicycle that would transport her to school every day. “I used to travel to school on foot every day and my situation at home was such that I never dreamt I would ever have a bicycle that would transport me to school,” acknowledged Hlulani, adding that her unemployed mother could not afford to buy her a bicycle.