Local rider gets new wheels

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Thursday June 20, 2013 00:00

 

Lekone will start his race today with new wheels after the ministry and Botswana-Post joined hands to buy him a new 700cc bike. The quad bikes and two wheelers start their race this morning and finish tomorrow while the vehicles start on Saturday.

The bike is said to be around P69, 000 in its standard form and shot up to around P115, 000 after the inclusion of some extras among them performance pipe, suspensions and arms. Bontleng petrol station will on the other hand provide him with fuel during race.  'I am very happy for what Botswana Post, the ministry and Engen Bontleng have done for me. I can promise them that by 10:00 am (today), I would have done 250 kilometres,' Lekone said the launch of the sponsorship. Permanent secretary at the ministry, Ruth Maphorisa said their aim at the ministry is to ensure that they take care of their staff members. She explained that they try to identify talent that every staff member possesses and supports them in the best possible way. Lekone works at the ministry.

She said it is common that the private sector is usually associated with social responsibility but pointed out that the government also plays a hand. She encouraged Lekone to do his best in the race. 'The most important thing is not to win but to compete,' she said. Botswana-Post managing director, Pele Moleta, who said that they would be happy if Lekone manages to finish the race, echoed Maphorisa's words.

'All we want from you is to stand up and be counted. We intend to stick with this relationship to ensure that you have this machine (bike) even next year,' he said.