Minister Schäfer and Minister Grant encourage learners to celebrate responsibly

Today, the majority of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Candidates will write their last examination - English Home Language and English First Additional Language, Paper 3.

For the remainder of this week, learners will be writing Music Paper 1 and 2, Agricultural Management Practices and Design.

This means that this week, many candidates will be heading to annual 'matric rage parties' in towns across the province, particularly in Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay.

Matric candidates have worked very hard to get to this point in their lives and while they deserve to celebrate, we appeal to them to do so responsibly.

We encourage all candidates who will be participating in 'matric rage parties' to exercise moderation, and to use additional registered car services and public transport services that are available when travelling between venues if they are under the influence of alcohol.

Candidates must also exercise caution when on the roads, and ensure that they:

• Always make sure that there is a responsible driver that is not under the influence of alcohol or substances that affect their ability to drive
• always obey the speed limit and other rules of the road
• avoid distractions whilst driving, including the use of cellphones
• avoid late night driving where possible, or driving when you are tired
• ensure that they and their passengers are always buckled up. It is usually the passengers that are not buckled up that kill people. Not wearing a seatbelt is against the law. It is also extremely dangerous. Unbuckled passengers become wrecking balls in a collision, and kill and severely injure others, even passengers who have buckled up See the Safely Home video here - https://safelyhome.westerncape.gov.za/site-page/first-kiss-no-seatbelt-no-excuse (Not for sensitive viewers)

Provincial and Municipal traffic services are on high alert over this period, and ready for any eventuality. A no-nonsense approach will again be adopted to any transgressions during this time. Let us work together to ensure that this time of celebration isn't marred by reckless and irresponsible behaviour that endangers lives. We must work in partnership to avoid any unnecessary injury or death at all costs.

"Just last year alone, our Provincial Traffic Services, together with our municipal partners and the SAPS, conducted various operations around the Matric Rage period which included a total of 27 operations focused on checking vehicle safety, speed, and driving under the influence. 2 Male adults were arrested for driving under the influence in Plettenberg Bay over this period at these operations. This year we will be focusing on making our roads even safer. We will continue to have a strong law enforcement presence on our roads over this period, and encourage those who will be attending parties to celebrate responsibly, and follow all the rules of the road. Alcohol and the roads simply do not mix," said Donald Grant, Minister of Transport and Public Works.
We are grateful that such celebrations in recent times have been conducted without any serious incident. We hope that this year will be no different.

Candidates are also reminded that they must be available to write up until the 9^th of December 2017 for any eventuality that might occur until the end of the examination process.

"I appeal to all matric candidates not to spoil what should be a well-earned celebration. You have the rest of your lives ahead of you - a moment of irresponsibility can have a lifetime of consequences", said Schäfer.