By Barry Bateman
Walking long distances to school is no longer a problem for 50 pupils from seven schools in the Hammanskraal area.
On Saturday the Department of Transport, through its Shova Kalula Bicycle Project, handed bicycles to pupils who live some distance from their schools and face transport problems.
The seven schools which the pupils are from are the Palesane Primary School, Redirile Primary School, Bokamoso High School, Hosea Kekana High School, Mokonyama Primary School, Tsedi Ntlha Middle School and Seroto Masepleha.
The youngsters could not keep their eyes off the rows of brightly coloured mountain bikes as they sat through the hand-over formalities.
Afterwards, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe donned a helmet and took to the road with dozens of children in tow.
Sitting on his bike with his helmet loosely strapped was a happy Tshepo Khumalo, 11. "The bike is going to help me get to school on time. I will also be able to help my mom by going to the shops," he said.
Tshepo said he would always wear his helmet.
Tshepo's teacher, Charles Kekana, said the bicycles would make life a lot easier for many of the youngsters. "Many of them live far from school, but can't afford transport.
"Because they have to travel so far they are often late. The bikes will minimise absenteeism," he said.
Radebe gave the pupils a warm welcome: "Morning learners."They replied "morning". Not pleased with the answer, Radebe said: "Morning, sir!"
Amid chuckles from teachers and dignitaries, the pupils responded enthusiastically: "Morning, sir, how are you?" Radebe said he was "cool".
He said the handover ensured South Africa's future leaders had adequate means of getting to school.
"It is our responsibility to ensure that Hammanskraal pupils have access to education without having to walk long distances to and from school.
"If we turn a blind eye on such an essential matter, South Africa will not produce her leaders of tomorrow and our economy will grind to a halt," he said.
Radebe said research studies indicated that children who walked long distances to and from school arrived at school tired and this affected their performance in class.
The partnership between local and provincial government and schools assisted the department in identifying pupils who had to walk long distances, he said.
"With 50 bicycles being distributed to pupils from these schools, there will be no excuses for latecomers. There will be no excuses for poor grades at school.
"My department initiated the Shova Kalula Bicycle Project in 2001 as a means of providing an intermediate, yet affordable and healthy means of transport to people in poorly resourced rural areas and congested urban areas.
"We have set aside R109-million for non-motorised transport as part of the Public Transport Infrastructure Fund for the 2010 World Cup," said Radebe.
His department was going to appoint a company to source more bicycles for people as part of the non-motorised strategy, he said.