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Empowering Local Youth with Free Learner’s Driving Licenses
In collaboration with Diageo South Africa, a prominent spirits company, the Gauteng government is rolling out a remarkable opportunity for the province’s underprivileged youth as part of October Transport Month.
This initiative signifies a crucial stride toward creating a more prosperous and safer Gauteng. It addresses the challenge of high youth unemployment, which remains alarmingly high at 46.5%, as per recent statistics from Stats SA.
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Furthermore, the initiative is aimed at promoting responsible attitudes towards alcohol use, as alcohol misuse continues to be a significant contributor to road accidents through drinking and driving or walking.
In response to these pressing issues, Diageo South Africa, in partnership with the Gauteng Premier’s office, the Department of Roads and Transport, and the Department of Economic Development, is working to tackle these problems comprehensively and drive positive change.
The ‘Wrong Side of the Road’ campaign is designed to assist young people in Gauteng’s TISH (townships, informal settlements, and hostels) in covering administrative fees for obtaining learner’s licenses.
Eligible participants must be aged between 17 and 34. While the project’s initial goal is to assist 40,000 young people, the response has been overwhelming, with over 130,000 applicants since its announcement by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi in early August this year.
Lesufi stated, “Empowering Gauteng’s youth with free learner’s licenses serves as a dual-purpose endeavor. It is the first phase towards obtaining a driver’s license, which enhances employability. Additionally, this initiative actively promotes responsible driving during the learning stage, hopefully improving road safety, particularly against drinking and driving.”
In collaboration with the Gauteng Economic Development Department, 10,000 of the 40,000 learner’s license opportunities will be earmarked for motorbike licenses to support Project Last Mile, which aims to license, mentor, and connect young people to job opportunities.
This initiative aligns with Diageo South Africa’s 10-year sustainability action plan and underscores the company’s commitment to changing attitudes toward impaired driving.
The recruitment phase has concluded, and those who have successfully advanced will receive the next steps of their journey via SMS and WhatsApp, including watching a video and completing a short quiz related to understanding the effects of alcohol and the stigma associated with drunk driving.
All steps must be completed to be eligible for a free learner’s license booking. Entries are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. To facilitate the application process, free Wi-Fi access is available at local libraries for those with data limitations.
It’s important to note that only individuals on the current recruitment list can continue their journey, and no further registrations will be accepted.
Eligibility criteria for participants include:
- South African citizenship.
- Gauteng residency in the TISH sector.
- Age between 17 and 34.
- Readiness to take the learner’s test by studying through K53 APP’s learning material.
- Availability to take the learner’s license between October 19 and February 28.
The initiative is limited to 40,000 learner licenses, covering license types Code 1, 2, and 3.
Source: Local youth empowered with free learner driving licences
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