October 25, 2007
By Lesego Madumo
"IN her majestic flight, Pedestrian Angel looks upon us on dangerous roads [and protects] us on behalf of the almighty Father."
Wendy Sibeko, a pupil at Roodepoort Primary School, explained how she and her fellows came up with the name chosen for the City's transport mascot. Pedestrian Angel was visiting the school on Wednesday 24 October to welcome her new name and thank the children for their help in christening her.
Roodepoort Primary and a clutch of other schools were invited to name the new transport mascot at a Public Transport Month campaign at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown earlier this month.
On the day, teachers and pupils were asked to suggest names, and a panel of judges consisting of City officials chose the winner.
"Thank you guys for making me feel like a normal person who has a name like everyone else," the Pedestrian Angel told the Roodepoort Primary pupils. She also took the opportunity to speak to them about road safety, urging them to "respect the road" and always to look left, right, and left again before crossing the road.
Gathered on the school's pavement, the children listened attentively to Pedestrian Angel, who told them about the importance of their safety on roads, and quizzed them on their road safety knowledge.
"Thank you for giving her a name," said Rehana Moosajee, the member of the mayoral committee for transport, adding that the mascot would represent road safety on City roads. Pedestrian Angel was designed to help her department to teach safety education to disadvantaged communities.
The day was characterised by song, dance, and poetry. Wendy, a newly appointed member of the scholar patrol, represented her peers and explained their thinking behind the name. After her talk, there was a parade by the scholar patrol. The learners danced and sang songs about road safety messages.
Adding to the fun, the school choir charmed the audience with its songs.
Walter Nkomo, a teacher and the head of safety at the school, said the school was honoured. "We are very proud to have succeeded against all those other schools that we competed against in naming the mascot, and we thank the judges for having found our suggested name fit.
"As a school, having given the mascot [her] name makes us feel like we have contributed to disseminating the message of road safety to the future generation."
Moosajee said that even though Public Transport Month would end, it was important for children to continue exercising safety on roads. "The City believes that if we teach children the message of road safety while they are still young, it will not be easily uprooted when they grow older."
Rehana Moosajee, the member of the mayoral committee for transport interviews Pedestrian Angel, the City's new transport mascot
The purpose of the mascot was to educate young children about serious issues in a fun way. After transport month, Pedestrian Angel and the City would work with communities and community structures to reinforce the message of road safety and the mascot would continue to visit schools.
"It is vital to continue going forward with the message of road safety," Moosajee said.
October is national Public Transport Month, a national campaign held to educate people about using public transport. It is supported by national, provincial, and local departments of transport and aims to encourage people to use public transport to reduce traffic congestion and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions from exhausts.
This year it has focused on awareness about transport safety, public transport, transport infrastructure, and non-motorised transport.
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