Mxolisi Mazibuko may soon be able to make it to school on time.
The 17-year-old always arrives an hour late for school due to circumstances beyond his control.
He wakes up every morning to prepare his seven-year-old brother for school. He then walks the 3km to Orlando High School in Soweto, arriving an hour after start time.
"My name is always on the latecomer's list," said the Grade 10 pupil.
Mazibuko and his brother stay with their grandmother. She leaves home at 5am to sell scones. She can only afford taxi fare for the younger boy.
"As the elder brother I walk to school because my grandmother cannot afford transport money for both my brother and I," Mxolisi said. But all this may change, at least after tomorrow, when he and and 314 other pupils receive bicycles from the City of Johannesburg. The venture is in partnership with Dimension Data and Qhubeka cycling club.
Apart from Orlando High, other Soweto pupils to benefit will be those from Noordgesig Secondary School and Bona Comprehensive School.
According to the City of Johannesburg, this is in line with the City's initiative to promote cycling as a mode of transport for commuters and pupils.
Last year, the national department of environmental affairs in partnership with the City of Johannesburg launched the Orlando Cycle Paths and Complete Streets project.
The project is aimed at giving residents an alternative to private cars, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy sources and facilitate broad climate change awareness.
Pupils like Christopher van Ross at Noordgesig Secondary School will now be able to travel to school in style.
The Grade 11 pupil from Ghost Town always walks an hour to get to school.
Van Ross stays with his sister who has recently found employment.
"My sister cannot afford to give me lunch money, let alone transport money, so I do not have a choice but to walk."
Nicole Finger, who lives in Riverlea, also walks to Noordgesig when there is no money for a taxi.
"Unfortunately I am not going to receive a bicycle."
mcuber@sowetan.co.za
Bicycles to end long walk to education
Mxolisi Mazibuko may soon be able to make it to school on time.
The 17-year-old always arrives an hour late for school due to circumstances beyond his control.
He wakes up every morning to prepare his seven-year-old brother for school. He then walks the 3km to Orlando High School in Soweto, arriving an hour after start time.
"My name is always on the latecomer's list," said the Grade 10 pupil.
Mazibuko and his brother stay with their grandmother. She leaves home at 5am to sell scones. She can only afford taxi fare for the younger boy.
"As the elder brother I walk to school because my grandmother cannot afford transport money for both my brother and I," Mxolisi said. But all this may change, at least after tomorrow, when he and and 314 other pupils receive bicycles from the City of Johannesburg. The venture is in partnership with Dimension Data and Qhubeka cycling club.
Apart from Orlando High, other Soweto pupils to benefit will be those from Noordgesig Secondary School and Bona Comprehensive School.
According to the City of Johannesburg, this is in line with the City's initiative to promote cycling as a mode of transport for commuters and pupils.
Last year, the national department of environmental affairs in partnership with the City of Johannesburg launched the Orlando Cycle Paths and Complete Streets project.
The project is aimed at giving residents an alternative to private cars, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy sources and facilitate broad climate change awareness.
Pupils like Christopher van Ross at Noordgesig Secondary School will now be able to travel to school in style.
The Grade 11 pupil from Ghost Town always walks an hour to get to school.
Van Ross stays with his sister who has recently found employment.
"My sister cannot afford to give me lunch money, let alone transport money, so I do not have a choice but to walk."
Nicole Finger, who lives in Riverlea, also walks to Noordgesig when there is no money for a taxi.
"Unfortunately I am not going to receive a bicycle."
mcuber@sowetan.co.za
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