By REGINALD KANYANE
18 August 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng said his department will once again embark on the annual Road Safety Debate and Participatory Education Technique (PET) schools’ competition. Morweng said over the years, the province has produced an excellent team of debaters, who went on to showcase their skills at the national competitions and flying the Provincial flag high.
He further said in 2022, Vryburg High School from Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District and Onkabetse Thuto Technical School in Setlagole village, in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, produced best speakers in the urban and rural categories respectively.
Morweng added that in 2023, the province secured a triple win by producing a best speaker from Kismet Secondary School (Vryburg), who went on to obtain the second position of the urban category.
“Setilo Secondary School (Mareetsane) in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District came third in the rural category. Tiger Kloof Secondary School in Vryburg came third position in the urban category at last year’s national competitions held in Bloemfontein.
“For the Participatory Education Technique (PET) competition, learners are required to identify road safety challenges in their own communities,” he said.
Morweng said once this is done, they then conduct extensive research in order to develop and implement sustainable solutions to address those challenges. He said learners are thereafter evaluated on creative models and presentations that serve as examples of the solutions.
“For those competing in the debates, motions related to road safety are provided beforehand so as to conduct thorough research as part of the preparation.
“Through a deliberation of ideas, learners create a dialogue around responsible road use backed up by scientific evidence,” said Morweng.
Meanwhile, the Road Safety Management, Director Motshabi Tshukudu said this programme is pivotal in the promotion of road safety behaviour amongst the young people. Tshikudu said these programmes aim to foster a positive mindset and encourage behavioural change among the young people.
“This enables them to be proactive road safety ambassadors who champion safer road usage practices in their communities.
“They not only equip learners with innovative ways of promoting road safety but also help them develop leadership and presentation skills,” she said.
Tshukudu said they are now underway for the district leg of competition. She said the winners will go on to the provincial lap, where the best of the best will be selected to represent the North West later this year as part of the October Transport Month activities.
“The upcoming debate and PET competitions are scheduled to take place Bojanala Platinum Municipality Council Chambers, Rustenburg.
“They will also take place on 20 August 2025, at Reabona Secondary School in Wolmaransstad, on 21 August 2025 at Tau Rapulana High School in Bodibe and Public Works Industrial Site in Vryburg on 22 August 2025,” said Morweng.
Meanwhile, the Road Safety Debates and PET is a national initiative that is coordinated by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and is implemented across all nine provinces on an annual basis. This effort is targeted forGrades 10 and 11 learners.
The Guardian 