Hon Chair, hon Minister, education and violence at schools and rotten food given to learners and undignified sanitation in schools is not societal matter - not after 25 years - it is a matter for the Sixth Parliament to solve once and for all. Learners in the 10 crime hotspots at the Cape Flats lie as a priority to be 100% safe at schools. Hon Minister, you cannot leave everything to the police and the
army. For the next three months, Minister must have a parallel process.
Minister, Al Jama-ah supports the Budget Vote on Basic Education. With that said, learners under the Progressive Student Movement with 100 000 learners in their database, through their conference in June, adopted a solution document which questions the effectiveness of the equitable share formula in redressing the disparities in most rural provinces. The learners believe that the 3% waiting given to poverty component is insufficient.
I want to acknowledge the presence of Kabelo Nthekiso, the President of the Progressive Student Movement in the gallery. He was elected at the conference in Bloemhof, in June, by delegates representing 100 000 learners. He attended Marang Primary School in Jakkalsdans - a deep rural village school in North West where the hon Boshoff also comes from. It is the poorest primary school in the North West Province. Al Jama-ah regards Progressive Student Movement, PSM as a learner command of South
Africa. They have a solution for violence in schools, hon Minister, make time for them.
Al Jama-ah also wants to make the point that the 3% is not helping rural schools. Help by increasing the waiting for poverty component in your Budget by having under rador, not 3% but 60% in the spirit of Mandela Day. But let's start with comma 76% that will help you honour President Mandela on Thursday. Please adjust the Budget if you can.
Al Jama-ah also wants students in Madrasas memorising the Quran by heart to help learners with their multiplication tables as many cannot multiply three times three at the age of 10. When I campaigned for votes I tested these students in Mitchells Plain and abandoned the campaign for the day and ... [Inaudible.] helped them memorize their tables.
So, we have a lot of challenges in the Western Cape besides the violence. It is unacceptable that students and learners reach the age of 12 and they can't read and write and also they can't
multiply. So, we have a real challenge for this Parliament but we support the Budget and good luck, hon Minister. [Applause.]