Limpopo Road Safety Programme Trains Over 3,000 Learners on Road Safety

The Road Safety Partnership South Africa (RSP-SA), Impact Catalyst, South African Red Cross Society, and De Beers Venetia Mine recently celebrated the completion of phase one of the Limpopo Road Safety Programme (LRSP) VIA School Road Safety Project. The milestone was marked by a certificate handover ceremony at Tlhona Sedimong Primary School in Blouberg Local Municipality, Limpopo.

This road safety awareness and education project, implemented in 22 schools across Musina and Blouberg in Limpopo, involved training 22 unemployed youth to conduct road safety education for learners in grades five to ten. Over 3,000 learners gained essential knowledge on general road safety and the challenges they face on their way to school.

Principal Makobela of Tlhona Sedimong Primary School emphasised the importance of the programme: "We are grateful for this initiative and hope to see a positive change in learners' behaviour regarding road safety, which will influence their families and educators as well."

A baseline survey conducted by the LRSP revealed that 69% of the 1,549 learners interviewed walk to school, with travel times ranging from 30 to 60 minutes. Alarmingly, 29% of learners use their cellphones for social media or music while walking, posing serious safety risks. The survey also found that 43% of girls aged 9-12 feel unsafe during their school commute, with 38% expressing concerns about bullying or crime.

Andy Cyster, Socio-Economic Development Manager at Venetia Mine, reinforced De Beers’ commitment to community safety: "Our contribution to this programme is a demonstration of our long-standing commitment to playing a meaningful role in mine community development guided by our purpose, values and our Building Forever sustainability framework. While changing behaviours is challenging, we believe that programmes like this can be an integral part of the solution – and will go a long way in inspiring the learners and their families into action.”

The Impact Catalyst, which mobilizes public and private sector resources for socio-economic development, partnered with the Road Safety Partnership South Africa and the South African Red Cross Society to implement the project.

"I am delighted to see the learners demonstrate a stronger understanding of road safety. Since the programme began in June 2024, there has been a noticeable positive change. It’s gratifying to see how this initiative has equipped them with the skills to navigate their school journeys safely," said Lucky Molaudzi, General Manager of Road Safety Partnership South Africa.

During the handover ceremony, 25 learners who participated in the programme were selected to showcase their understanding of road safety through presentations. Karen Jecheche, one of the learner participants, shared her experience: "I really liked the fun activities we did, like the 'Crossing the Line' game and drawing pictures of what to do and what not to do in traffic. These activities made learning about road safety easy and fun. Now, I feel ready to make smart choices and stay safe on the roads."

The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety, which supports the LRSP VIA School Road Safety Project, commended the efforts. Victor Mafumadi, Director under the Office of the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, said: "We appreciate the road safety education learners in remote areas of Limpopo are receiving. We encourage companies like the Road Safety Partnership and the Impact Catalyst to continue educating more learners on road safety."

This initiative is part of the broader Limpopo Road Safety Programme (LRSP), a three-year, multipurpose project funded by the Anglo American Foundation.

“We hope that as the School Road Safety Project progresses, it will continue to resonate with the learners for many years to come, creating a generation of responsible road users and safer communities,” added Noeleen Greyling, Head of Department: Social Development and Communications at the Impact Catalyst.

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