Empowering Gauteng's Youth with Free Learners Licences! Promoting Responsible Driving and Creating Safer Roads 11 October 2023 To mark the start of October Transport Month, the Gauteng Provincial Government, in partnership with the leading spirits company Diageo South Africa, presents an exciting opportunity for disadvantaged young people of the province. To bridge the unemployment gap and foster responsible attitudes towards alcohol use, this initiative takes a step further in creating a prosperous and safer Gauteng. According to recent statistics from Stats SA, the youth unemployment rate in South Africa remains alarmingly high at 46.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2023. Additionally, alcohol misuse continues to be a significant contributor to road accidents through drinking and driving/walking. In response to these pressing challenges, Diageo South Africa has joined forces with the Office of the Premier of Gauteng, the Department of Roads and Transport, and the Department of Economic Development to address these issues holistically and bring about positive change. Themed "Wrong Side of the Road," the campaign aims to assist youth with administrative fees for securing learners’ licenses. To be considered, the participants need to be between the ages of 17-34 years and should reside in TISH (Townships, Informal Settlements and Hostels) in Gauteng. While the target for the project is to assist 40,000 youth, more than 130,000 responses have been received since the Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced the project in early August 2023. "The Gauteng Provincial Government, in partnership with Diageo South Africa, presents an exciting opportunity for young people. Empowering Gauteng's youth with free learner's licenses serves as a dual-purpose endeavour. 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”, said Premier Panyaza Lesufi. In partnership with the Gauteng Economic Development Department, 10,000 of the 40,000 learners’ license opportunities will be reserved for motorbike licenses to support Project LastMile. The Last-Mile project aims to license, train, mentor, and connect young people to job opportunities. Those interested will receive training and assistance, including access to motorbikes (options include rent-to-own, rental, or outright purchase) and contracts with industry-leading partners. Corporate Relations Director at Diageo South Africa, Sibani Mngadi, said, "This initiative aligns with our 10-year sustainability action plan, Society 2030: Spirit of Progress, and reflects our commitment to positive change in attitudes towards impaired driving. As a global leading beverage alcohol company, we believe in our duty to collaborate with partners such as the Department of Roads and Transport to create prevention tools that can save lives." About Wrong Side of the Road The recruitment phase has concluded, with an overwhelming response from applicants. Those who have successfully progressed will receive the next steps of their journey via SMS and WhatsApp, which include watching a video and completing a short quiz related to understanding the effects of alcohol and the shame and stigma associated with drunk driving. All steps must be completed to be eligible to receive your free learner's license booking. This includes your readiness to take the test and achieving an 80% pass rate using the K53 app. All entries will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Recognizing that some applicants may face data limitations, the initiative encourages individuals to visit their local libraries, where free Wi-Fi access is available for the application process. Please note that only those names on the current recruitment list can continue the journey, and no further registrations will be accepted. Eligibility Criteria: • South African Citizens • Gauteng Residents in the Township, Informal Settlements, and Hostels (TISH) Sector • Age 17-34 • Prepared for the learners’ test by studying through K53 APP's Learning Material Only entries via WhatsApp will be accepted for the next phase: • Applicants must be available to take their learner's license from 19 October 2023 to 28 February 2024 • Limited to 40,000 Learners Licenses • License Types: Code 1 | Code 2 | Code 3 For more information about the campaign, please visit our social media pages (@DriveDry). Issued by the Gauteng Provincial Government and DIAGEO For media enquiries contact Melitah Madiba on 073 664 9935 or email, pressoffice.gpdrt@gauteng.gov.z