Hon Chairperson, the incidents of crime, sexual assault and gangsterism in our schools have been increasing of late. We must be brutally honest, hon Chairperson, that these incidences are a microcosm of the ills ravaging our society. School children are no longer trading their pockets of excellence in the classrooms. They have bent a leap backward, harassing the very educators that are responsible for their education.
We have partly lost this battle because trade unions have become a shadow of their former themselves. No tighter rules, in the last
decade, have been sponsored by SA Democratic teacher's Union, Sadtu, to deal with leaner delinquency in schools. The politicising of the school governing bodies, SGBs, has fested the wound. Parents whose children are delinquent are no longer held accountable.
Hon members, we can no longer watch as our children continue to kill one another, meaning this learner on learner violence. Necessary reforms in both public and private schools must begin now. We have to inculcate a culture of discipline, of continuous learning and development into our children. The police service has to work with the SGBs and the communities to stem out learner delinquency. We can turn the tide around. It is never too late. So, we cannot just leave the country in the hands of children who cannot control it when we have died.
So, the land or the country must be safe for our children now, so that they can live in a better South Africa. If it happens that we die today, at least we will rest knowing that our children are safe. So, let's come together and do things together so that we can succeed. Thank you very much.