Qhubeka distributes 228 bicycles in Groot Marico Region

Qhubeka Groot Marico bicycle distribution – Image captured by Marike Cronje for ZC Marketing Consulting.

QHUBEKA DISTRIBUTES 228 BICYCLES FUNDED BY NATIONAL LOTTERIES COMMISSION IN GROOT MARICO REGION

On Thursday 4 April, 228 bicycles funded by National Lotteries Commission were distributed to people who have worked to earn them through the Qhubeka work-to-earn programme at the Madikwe Rural Development Program (MRDP) in South Africa’s North West province.

MRDP is a long-term Qhubeka implementation partner based in the rural Groot Marico area. Jobs in this region have previously been scarce, meaning communities often battled to make ends meet. MRDP aims to help change that through its various programmes.

These include Qhubeka work-to-earn programmes that incorporate handicraft initiatives, such as crocheting blankets, scarves and beanies, creating bright fabric musette bags, or making cow bells from recycled materials, as well as a bicycle assembly facility. The latter is one of two such facilities where the Qhubeka bicycles are assembled (the other one is in the Western Cape).

“It’s wonderful to see how Groot Marico has developed into a hub of creativity and how the community has embraced bicycles,” said Tsatsi Phaweni, Qhubeka Executive Director. “It’s also wonderful to be distributing bicycles today that were manufactured by Qhubeka’s subsidiary, Real Bicycle Co. and assembled right here at MRDP. The wheel-lacers here have become experts at what they do. We’re also thankful to National Lotteries Commission for funding these bicycles, as well as the 100 they funded in 2018 for schoolchildren in our learn-to-earn programmes in the North West province.”

MRDP falls within Qhubeka’s North West SHIFT Project. A SHIFT is a Qhubeka bicycle project that aims to distribute 5 000 bicycles into a specific geographic area for five years, with the aim of helping to SHIFT the entire community forward.

Emily Molokwane is one of the women who works at MRDP. She assembles bicycle wheels. “Working at this factory has helped me so much because I can support my children and pay for their school fees,” she said. “One of my children has even managed to finish Matric with the aid of the money I get here. I love my job because I can also support myself and buy anything I need.”

Mapula Sesi, is part of the Blankets for Bicycles programme. “Not only can my children drive with my bicycle, but also I can ride it,” she says. “The bicycles make it easier to fetch water for me and my children because we have to walk half an hour to the next water tank.”