Madam Deputy Speaker, the ANC-led government wishes to unequivocally reject the notion by some sections of the media that the Minister of Basic Education purposefully misled Parliament in a reply to a question about drugs in Western Cape schools. It is common knowledge that the Minister of Basic Education has to obtain information relating to provincial schools from the province in question. The Minister's office could not get the necessary information from the Western Cape education department within the time constraints which apply in respect of replies to questions - the prescribed period of time. The Minister's reply therefore clearly indicated that no data from the Western Cape was available.
However, it is a matter of serious concern that the Western Cape department was much quicker in supplying the necessary information about drug use in schools to the media than to the Minister. The ANC condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts by parties like the DA to try to sensationalise and distort information in order to try to embarrass the ANC government and to score cheap political points. The education of our children is too serious to play games with. We call on the DA in particular to use questions in Parliament for their proper purpose in order to put out correct and responsible information to the general public. Thank you. [Applause.]