MPUMALANGA – In a thrilling display of intellect and passion for road safety, Mpumalanga has claimed victory in the National Road Safety Debate and Participatory Educational Techniques (PET) competition, showcasing the province’s commitment to nurturing young advocates for safe driving. Competing against formidable teams from Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, North West, and the Western Cape, Mpumalanga shone brightly during the finals held in Bloemfontein, Free State, on Friday night, September 27. The excitement in the air was palpable as the young debaters passionately argued their cases, proving that the leaders of tomorrow are well-equipped to tackle the pressing issue of road safety.
The Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security, and Liaison, Jackie Macie, congratulated the learners and trainers for their exceptional performance, which brought pride to the province. Gauteng finished as the first runner-up in the rural category debate, followed by the Free State.
Each Mpumalanga learner received R5,000 from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and R1,500 from Liberty. Sipho Hlebeya from the Mpumalanga team was named Best Speaker and awarded a tablet, courtesy of Syntell. Their trainer, Bhekinkosi Nkalanga, was also recognised as the Best Trainer in the rural category.
In the PET competition, Mpumalanga’s Khula Secondary School from Nkomazi Local Municipality claimed R70,000 to be used for road safety improvements at their school. Their trainer, Queen Thembekile Mhlongo, was named Best Trainer in the rural category. The Western Cape and Limpopo took second and third places, respectively.
Mpumalanga also achieved second and third places in the urban categories of the debate and PET competitions. Urban debate participants received R3,000 each from the RTMC and R1,500 from Liberty. PET learners in the urban category were awarded tablets sponsored by Syntell, with Sithembiso Thomo named Best Speaker and receiving a tablet as well.
All learners and trainers who came first, second, or third were awarded trophies and medals in recognition of their efforts.
MEC Macie commended the learners for their knowledge, critical thinking, and dedication to road safety, stating, “These learners are now true ambassadors of road safety in their communities.” He also expressed gratitude to the sponsors who supported the competition, which began in 2004 to address the high rate of road crashes involving people under 25.
The competition targets Grade 10 and 11 learners, using debates and participatory techniques to teach road safety in an interactive and engaging way. The competitions were held from Monday, September 23 and were a culmination of work that started in schools then proceeded to provincial level then to the national stage.
