Parents are urged to send their children to school on Tuesday, and warn them against participating in irresponsible Guy Fawkes activities.
Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said the department last year received reports of learners throwing stockings filled with paint at vehicles.
“As a result of this irresponsible behaviour, there is an increased absenteeism in certain schools during this time, since some learners do not attend school in order to participate in these irresponsible and potentially dangerous activities. Others do not attend school out of fear of being targeted either to or from school.
“We have contacted the SAPS and the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement and requested their visible presence in areas where this practice has traditionally been common, particularly in the vicinity of schools,” Schäfer said.
Schäfer added that parents must monitoring their children’s behaviour and check their school bags for any klappertjies or other materials such as paint before leaving home.
"Last year we received reports of learners throwing stockings filled with paint at motor vehicles, or joining in to smear fellow learners with paint. Other dangerous behaviour has also been reported, and in previous years it even resulted in physical harm to innocent learners and bystanders," Schäfer said.
Learners urged not to participate in irresponsible Guy Fawkes activities. Picture: File/Patrick Louw
“Our primary concern is the continued orderly functioning of our schools and the general safety of all the children.
“Our Grade 12 learners will also be writing their geography exams. It would be very unfortunate and infuriating if these exams are disrupted in any way, because these learners were targeted ahead of such an important matric exam.
“I appeal to everyone to work together as a collective community to discourage this type of disruptive and dangerous behaviour,” Schäfer said.