2000

UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT

MEDIA RELEASE

WEAPONS AT SCHOOL

MEDIA RELEASE ISSUED BY ANNELIZÉ VAN WYK, MP
 UDM SPOKESPERSON ON SAFETY AND SECURITY

Crime and education remains the biggest challenges facing a democratic South Africa.  The one clearly also impacts on the other.  It is through better quality education that we will be able to provide people with an improved opportunity to create a better future for themselves.  The report in Die Burger today stating that 15% of pupils in the Western Cape bring weapons to school is a matter for serious concern.  Schools are supposed to be firearm free zones and yet this sick state of affairs is reported matter of factly. What is being done to change this situation?  Why was a report needed in order to bring this to light?  Have the Departments of Education and Safety and Security been aware of this, and if so why are they not taking pro-active measures?  If this is the situation in the Western Cape then one can expect that the pattern will repeat itself in other provinces.

Quality education does not only require quality teachers, sufficient equipment and dedication from those involved, it requires as a prerequisite an environment that is conducive towards education.  It can simply not be accepted that learners must be subjected to potential violent situations while they are supposed to be concentrating on their studies.

The Departments of Education and Safety and Security must now give attention to how they are going to address this totally unacceptable situation.  In the past two weeks, we have seen growing tension and incidents of violence at places of learning.  These incidents are mostly the result of the actions of a small minority who succeeds in dictating to the majority.  This situation demands immediate action.

Enquiries:
Annelizé van Wyk, MP
UDM SPOKESPERSON: SAFETY AND SECURITY

Pretoria
31 May 2000