E-learning for Maths and Science:

One of the most exciting happenings at the Middelburg Toll Plaza is the E-learning centre. Five promising Grade 11 and 12 students were selected from three local schools, to receive extra classes in Maths and Science at the toll plaza.

Using groundbreaking and innovative technology, students attend a class presented by an assigned teacher at Ligbron Academy in Ermelo.

An interactive smart-board allows students to answer questions on the board by ‘writing’ on it with their fingers. Their answer is then immediately shown on a similar smart-board at the teacher’s location in Ermelo. A television screen and camera allows for live interaction between students and teachers during sessions.

Two classes per day, on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, have seen amazing results with the group’s marks improving with 21% for Maths and 32% for Science. Not only the class at the Middelburg Toll Plaza, but also several other classrooms are connected during the extra class sessions, reaching just shy of 400 learners per day from 25 different schools.

Due to the success of the project at the Middelburg Toll Plaza, TRAC plans on opening a similar centre at Khayalami School in Belfast. “Our aim is to eventually roll out projects like this across our route,” says Solange Soares-Nicolson, Communication Manager at TRAC.

Graham Esterhuysen, CEO of TRAC, said that they decided on Maths and Science because they determine 70 % of all career choices.

Construction near Middelburg almost complete:

A visit to a construction site where a new double lane is currently being built from Middelburg to Arnot, showed the magnitude of the project. Staggering figures like, six to eight bags of cement being used per metre of road, shows that TRAC means business.

They were however not very keen on disclosing how much water they pump out of the Middelburg Dam. Engineering Manager Wimpie Janse van Rensburg, said that they take between 100 to 150 kilolitres from the dam per month. That coincides with the allowed five kilolitres per day that was agreed upon by the Steve Tshwete Municipality when the project started.

Future projects:

Exciting new developments include a planned six lane highway for eight kilometres from eMalahleni to the Khusile Power Station off ramp to deal with heavy traffic congestion during peak times.

Construction to build an undivided freeway (one where there is no island in the middle) from Belfast to Machadodorp will also start in the coming months.

TRAC assist:

The gang rape of a girl from Belfast near eMalahleni in 2003, inspired TRAC Assist, the brainchild of CEO Mr Esterhuysen.

A girl was gang raped by three men when her vehicle broke down next to the highway. Police from a nearby police station failed to render assistance and the girl’s father had to drive 110 km to get to her. When he reached his child, she had already been raped.

TRAC Assist, with mobile units along the route, aspires to be at your side in 20 minutes, regardless of where you are on the N4. Their aim is to get you moving as soon as possible, even if that means taking you to the nearest garage so you can buy a tyre for your car.

The best part of it all is that this service is free of charge and available 24/7.

Save the helpdesk numbers 0800 872 264 and 082 881 4444 on your phone and use it next time you run into trouble whilst travelling on the N4.

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Video: TRAC accident simulation on N4