Just hours after the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga addressed the media and urged matric learners to stay safe after writing their National Senior Certificate exams, a fatal accident claimed the lives of three Grade 12 learners in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Now that the class of 2023 has finished writing, we urge them to stay safe. We have noted with concern learners hosting and attending what they call ‘pens down parties’ all over the show. What is clear is that as much as this time is cause for celebrating, hundreds of our children are overindulging in alcohol, binge drinking, and even finding themselves in trouble with the law,” Minister Motshekga had said.
A developing story on how three learners from KZN lost their lives in the early hours of Monday morning (4 December 2023), has gripped the nation and left families of the deceased devasted.
The learners Thandokuhle Khumalo (19), Luyanda Vilakazi (18), and Anele Majola (18), from Mnyamande High School, tragically lost their lives in a fatal car accident.
Six learners are reported to have been driving back from a ‘pens own’ party when they were involved in the accident. While three have died, the other three are injured and have been hospitalized.
KZN Education MEC, Mbali Frazer, together with the Head of Department for Education and other senior officials visited the school and the families of the deceased learners to pay their condolences. The learners were described by their educators as dedicated individuals with tremendous potential for success.
MEC Frazer said that this is not a time for arguing but to pray for the families that have lost their children and for those whose children are in hospital. She further warned matric learners to refrain from attending or hosting pens down parties.