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Japan team tours SA in solar car

North West school pupils encounter Japanese solar racing team

Hours after the start of the 2010 South African Solar Challenge, the Japanese team from Tokai University came across an unexpected and colourful surprise outside Bloemfontein. 

A troupe of drum majorettes who stopped at a filling station deep in the Free State were astounded by the view of the world champion solar car charging its batteries in the late afternoon sunlight.

The dancing majorettes from Sedibela Middle School in Rustenburg were among the first race day's highlights for the Tokai team. They performed a dynamic dance in front of the solar panel and then taught the startled Japanese racers some steps in exchange for an impromptu kung fu lesson.

It was a moment of excitement and inspiration for the young North West girls - who all take science and technology as a subject.

The solar panel car was an inspiration to the girls.

Grade 9 learner, Letlhogonolo Motlhake, 14, was impressed by the state of the art solar panels, which are usually only found on satellites. "Solar power will benefit South Africans greatly as fuel will become a scarce resource in the future," Motlhake said.

Onkarabile Mooketsa, 14, also in Grade 9, is glad the event is taking place in South Africa. "In Europe we see cars using hydrogen and such inventions of solar powered cars will also put our country on the map," said Mooketsa. "It will also inspire fellow South Africans to take interest in science and technology," she added.

The SA Solar Challenge, which started at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria early on Thursday morning, aims to promote renewable resources - and it has grabbed the attention of many South Africans.

In 2012, the event will be hosted in South Africa for the third time, and is expected to attract more international teams with a greater number of South African teams building local solar cars and competing with the world's best.

Ntebogeng Modibedi and Palesa Masuku, both 15, feel that the event is great for the country and has motivated them to be involved in 2012. "It will be great for us to participate in creating the solar cars in 2012 as it is an efficient project and one which will reduce the effects of global warming," says Masuku.

"Events of this magnitude are useful and will encourage our teachers to put more effort working with us on these kinds of science projects. They [our teachers] should come up with assignments that are similar to what we are seeing today so that we can be part of this legacy," says Modibedi.

Ntswakae Pooe, 15, also part of the majorettes, added that solar inventions will save the globe.

Agnes Motlhake, a mathematics teacher at the school, is involved with higher institutions engaging with schools on projects relating to science and technology. "A process has to start with universities and schools working together. It will encourage our learners to be more innovative and prepare them well for tertiary education," Motlhake said.

Report by Lebo Dube, who is with the Proof Communications PR team accompanying the SA Solar Challenge

 

 

 

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