When Katlego Tanke returns to his home village of Maruping in Kuruman, Northern Cape he wants to help change the attitudes of the youth in his area on matters of road safety as he is concerned that the youth are adversely affected by accidents and believes all this can change with road safety education.

The vibrant youth forms part of the 10 Youth from rural and urban schools across the Province ready to represent the Province at the National Road Safety Schools Debate Competitions in Nelspruit with the hope of scoring first position in their respective categories.

The youths from the different walks of life form two teams of five learners for the rural and the urban team.  Tanke and his peers have been chosen as the cream of the crop following outstepping their peers in regional and provincial competitions, debating on issues of road safety.  

“I am thankful to have a platform to teach other people what I have learned and observed about road safety especially the youth as we are mainly affected by road accidents and this competitions is really a stepping stone in doing that,” said Tanke.

He said he was proud as a youth from the rural area to be given the opportunity to speak his mind on important issues such as road safety.  

The Grade 11 learner from Remmogo High School in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District said, “I feel very happy for the opportunity to teach other people on road safety.”

“When I come back, I want to teach other youths what I have learned also looking at skills I have learned from debating such as self-confidence, speaking in public and being able to express your views with confidence but also not forgetting to learn from others,” he added.

The 10 youth are set to jet off to Nelspruit from the Kimberley Airport tomorrow, 7 October 2014, with their instructor, Lionell Mbata from Upington, to compete with other youths representing their Provinces in the two categories.  The debates focus on Grade 10 and Grade 11 learners and all their topics focus on road safety which is one of the pillars of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 that aims to reduce road deaths and injuries across the world.  

The competition is an initiative of the National Department of Transport aiming to get the youth involved in road safety while also educating them on the topic in a way that can translate positively in their communities.  

The 10 Youth the Northern Cape is cheering for are:

Rural Team:

Jayson Gribble from Concordia High School in Namakwa District

Penelope Simon, South African Van Wyk High School in Namakwa District

Natasha Monyatsi, Galaletsang Science High School in John Taolo Gaetsewe District.

Ronaldo Giko, Concordia High School in Namakwa District.

Katlego Tanke, Remmogo High School in John Taolo Gaetsewe District.

Urban Team:

Ziyanda Mhlauli, Northern Cape High Shool, Frances Baard District

Pamela Basjan, St Bonafice, Frances Baard District.

Yolanda Nxala, De Aar High School in Pixley Ka Seme District

Juane Nel, De Aar High School in Pixley Ka Seme District.

Llewellyn Phillips, Floors High School, Frances Baard District.


For any media clarity please contact:

Ms Keitumetse Moticoe
Communication Officer
Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison
074 251 6567 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)   053 839 1769

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Issued by the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison