Ministers Grant and Schäfer Appeal to Grade 12 Learners to Celebrate Responsibly

Joint Statement By Debbie Schäfer, Western Cape Minister of Education and Donald Grant, Minister of Transport and Public Works

Today (25 November 2014) candidates in the 2014 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations will write the last of the major examinations, English Paper Three.

Exams are scheduled to end on Friday, 28 November 2014 but many candidates will today be heading to annual ‘matric rage parties’ in towns across the province, particularly in Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay. The “matric rage parties” period is expected to end on 8 December 2014.

To those candidates who are finished writing, please be mindful that some candidates will write up until 28 November 2014. We appeal to the candidates still writing to stay focused in these remaining few days.

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 candidates to use additional registered car services and public transport services that are available when travelling between venues, and refrain from getting behind the wheel after consuming amounts of alcohol that exceed the legal requirement, or while under the influence of narcotics.

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

• Always obey the speed limit and other rules of the road.
• Avoid distractions whilst driving.
• Avoid late night driving where possible, or driving when tired.
• Ensure that they and their passengers are always buckled up.

Provincial and municipal traffic authorities will be adopting a no-nonsense approach to any transgressions during what is supposed to be a celebratory time, to ensure that festivities aren’t overshadowed by unnecessary injury and death.

There will be round-the-clock enforcement between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, with focussed enforcement operations conducted with our partners (SAPS, Bitou Fire Department and traffic law enforcement, EMS, and local security companies) at specific areas where incidents usually occur.

Candidates are also reminded that they must be available to write up until 4 December for any eventuality that might occur until the end of the examination process.

We 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.