Pedestrian accidents remain one of the most preventable tragedies on South Africa’s roads, but some organisations have refused to fold their arms and watch the crisis continue.

Instead, they have launched an initiative to tackle the risk head–on with reflective beanies.

At least 60 children at the Union of Jewish Women’s Alexandra Aftercare were given ‘halo beanies’, hand–knitted hats woven with special reflector yarn, on July 17.

Read more: How to successfully claim from the Road Accident Fund

The design ensures that headlights catch the reflective strip at the highest point of a child’s head, dramatically increasing visibility for motorists.

Wheel Well’s Theresa Erasmus explained that young children are especially vulnerable because their small stature places them below a driver’s natural line of sight.

“They are almost invisible on the roads at night. The reflective strip increases visibility by up to 10 times, giving drivers more time to react,” she said.

The project deliberately targets underprivileged areas. “We try and do it in the more underprivileged areas because these are the kids who get impacted most by road accidents, walking to school, early in the morning, especially in winter, when it’s not light out yet.

Union of Jewish Women office and project manager Vanessa Weltman said their volunteers knitted and crocheted the beanies using special reflector yarn, and they had one clear goal: to reduce accidents.

Also read: Two cars crashed in accident. Viewed from the top.

The distribution formed part of a Mandela Day programme at the aftercare centre, where children also prepared posters and speeches about Madiba’s legacy, enjoyed face painting, and shared homemade soup with volunteers. But the safety message was clear: protecting children on the roads must be a year–round priority.

The Alexandra Aftercare programme already provides daily homework supervision and mentorship. “We try and focus on gratitude and giving throughout the year, not just on Mandela Day,” Weltman said.
“It is all about teaching the kids, helping them understand who they are, why they do what they do, and why other people do what they do in terms of giving,” she said.
Now, with the addition of the halo beanies, it is also helping to safeguard children’s lives outside the classroom.

She said Alexandra was chosen as it was an area with a lot of needy and homeless people. Now, their programmes not only feed people in the community, but they also keep children of all ages safe and off the streets.

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