KANYAMAZANE – A community bicycle project aimed at uplifting locals has been launched and if everything goes well, young people will soon have the opportunity to put food on the table.

According to the brains behind the initiative, Cornelius Maimela, the bicycles which will mainly conduct patrolling services to curb crime in the area, will also serve as an advertising platform for local businesses, churches and any other services.

“The project will create youth employment in the township and my dream is for it to spread to other communities, especially rural areas in the whole of South Africa.

The bicycle has an A2-size advertising space for any businesses and events,” added Maimela.

The registered project will also benefit many community members as during the day the cyclists will use these to drive around rendering services like washing rubbish bins after the waste-removal trucks have emptied them.

“We can’t be spectators in a game that we are supposed to be playing hence I encourage young people to stand up and do something instead of folding their arms and expecting handouts,” he added.

Maimane further called on community members, local churches, business people and interested parties to make a donation of new or used bicycles and to make use of the advertising space.

“This project will assist many young people to stay away from crime while they get fit and stay healthy,” Maimela said, adding that at present he used his bicycle to go around the community and close taps that had not been properly closed and led to wastage.

He has more than 10 young people who are willing to be part of this project but they do not have bicycles at the moment.