Free State hosts RTMC National Road Safety Debate and participatory educational techniques (PET) competitions

The Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) held a welcome ceremony for the National Road Safety Debates and the Participatory Educational Techniques (PET) competitions in Bloemfontein.

The exciting event brought together passionate young minds to explore and debate critical issues surrounding road safety in South Africa, under this year theme, “We aim to empower the youth to actively contribute to road safety awareness and policy through dynamic debate competitions and interactive educational sessions”.

The Participatory Education Techniques & Debates Competitions are annual competitions that are hosted in partnership with the Department of Basic Education and Provincial Departments of Transport.

This Programme is a national initiative that is coordinated by the RTMC and implemented by all nine provinces with great success since 2007. This effort is directed at secondary/ high school learners in grades 10 and 11 and is conducted in line with the World Schools and United Nations Style of Debating adapted for the purposes of imparting
road safety knowledge amongst peers.

Present to help MEC Jabu Mbalula to welcome the learners was the Mangaung Metro Municipality Executive Mayor: Cllr Gregory Nthatisi, the Speaker of Mangaung Metro Municipality: Dr. Lawrence Mathae, the CEO of RTMC: Adv. Makhosini Msibi, and the Head of Department for Community Safety, Roads and Transport: Dr. Masego Tshabalala.