With a view to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the project is aimed at (among others) providing alternative transport in the rural areas, tourism and job creation. It is also aimed at monitoring the heatlh and welfare of the animals involved.

 

In terms of social responsibility and community outreach, the project was deemed so significant that institutions such as Absa donated towards the project. According to Prof Cheryl McCrindle, Head of the Veterinary Public Health Section of the Faculty, the project is particularly relevant at the present time as the fuel costs escalated alarmingly. Although donkey transport has been in place in South Africa for over 400 years, the animal responsible for its success and sustainability has been ignored, or even actively discriminated against.

 

Using sound economic-based research, it can be shown that one donkey can bring in a profit of more than R3000 a month if it is used for less than 10 days a month, using current income and cost factors. The carts have been designed so that they are safe for passengers, but ergonomically efficient - so a single human student ( who weighs about half of the 150 kg that is the weight of an average donkey) can pull the single donkey cart with 2 students on board, with ease! Two students can pull the 4 wheel cart with six students on board with no real effort. To match the cart,  a veterinary science student, Nico Benade, is currently designing an ergonomically efficient and donkey friendly harness, based on a literature study and his own practical experience with donkeys.

---

Below: Two new prototypes of the donkey carts were recently launched at the Faculty. From left to right on the photo is Nico Benade, a student at the Faculty, Dr Erika van Zyl (Veterinary Public Health Section), Mr Hendrik van Zyl (Lecturer, TUT), Mr Lucas Mabena (Lecturer, TUT), Prof Cheryl McCrindle (Head of the Section: Veterinary Public Health), Mncedisi Nakim and Victor Masete (both students at TUT).