South Africans are reaching for the stars in many ways. Take Sibusiso Vilane, the first black man to conquer Mount Everest, or Mark Shuttleworth, who became the world’s second space tourist after his information-technology business sky-rocketed.
Now there is another ass-tronomical proudly South African achievement, centering on transport involving at least four feet and two wheels firmly on — and preferably level with — the earth, and involving no horsepower whatsoever.
Standards South Africa, which is part of the SA Bureau of Standards, said on Thursday it had produced the country’s first known standards for donkey carts.
This was done at the request of North West’s transport department.
”Hundreds of thousands of South Africans in rural areas have no transport, other than their own two feet, to reach their schools or places of employment,” said Frans Vilakazi, the province’s transport MEC in a statement.
”For many schoolchildren… this means walking more than 15 kilometres to school and back. The more effective use of animal-drawn carts in general — and donkey-drawn carts in particular — can improve this situation.”
The standards cover the requirements for the construction and performance of donkey carts. This would help ensure more affordable and reliable transport to people who could not afford motorised transport, said Vilakazi.
Dr Cliff Johnston, director of Standards SA, said: ”While many of the standards we produce nowadays are deliberately aligned with international standards in order to promote South Africa’s international competitiveness, there are always areas such as this where we develop uniquely South African standards to improve the quality of life of our people.” – Sapa