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The Department of Basic Education has repeated its call for collaborative efforts to stem the scourge of so-called pens down parties after the matric exams.
Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga was speaking on Monday amid reports of chaotic scenes on Saturday when hundreds of youngsters celebrating the end of the exams descended on the East London beachfront.
At least five teens were reportedly taken to hospital, with the Daily Dispatch saying that the crowd was around 700 strong.
Speaking on the Moneyweb at Midday podcast, Mhlanga repeated the education department's yearly concerns around these events.
“The concern is around the safety of our young people at these parties because almost every year there will be an incident where somebody or several of them lose their lives.
“So, we are concerned, because when the Minister announces the matric results, she often has to announce results of people who have passed away as a result of these pens down parties,” he said.
Mhlanga said the department needed to work very closely with the parents because they were, as he put it, the 'sponsors' of these pens down parties by giving their children money.
He said there were also a lot of risks associated with these parties, noting past drownings, stabbings, and people being shot dead.
“We need a very close relationship with our parents who should understand that our children, as much as we love them and they should celebrate, it needs to be done safely. You can party without alcohol,” Mlhanga said.
Meanwhile, he said the legislation is already in place to govern the sale of alcohol, and the licensing of outlets that sell alcohol, noting that more assistance was needed in the “enforcement” of these laws.
He highlighted last year's tragedy where 21 young people died at the Enyobeni tavern in East London.
“That is why in one of our messages we encouraged law enforcement agencies to patrol these areas where the parties occur and also to go in and check if the people are in a legitimate establishment and whether they are allowed to be there in terms of the law.
“Where the law is contravened, action needs to follow,” he said.
“We need to appeal to our law enforcement agencies to play their part, but most of all it’s the parents who need to take responsibility for their children.
"We are just raising awareness about the dangers of these things, but it’s a collaborative effort that is required," Mhlanga concluded.
