Voorsitter, Minister, ek dink dit is baie meer dieperliggend as waar dispute tussen leerders op die skoolgronde tradisioneel met 'n vuisgeveg, of in die geval van jong meisies, deurmekaar in die hare te vlieg, besleg is. Dit is 'n aaklige nuwe tendens om van gevaarlike wapens - messe of selfs vuurwapens, gebruik te maak om verskille te besleg.
Ons het dit gesien in die dood van verskeie leerlinge die afgelope ruk. Wat kan u as Minister van Veiligheid en Sekuriteit vandag s om die vrese in ouerharte te besweer dat ons kinders nou ook nie eens meer op die skoolgronde veilig is nie, asseblief? (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr R J KING: Chairperson, Minister, I think it is much more deep-rooted than playground disputes between learners being settled with traditional fisticuffs or, in the case of young girls, with catfights. It is a dreadful new tendency to settle differences through the use of dangerous weapons - knives or even guns. Recently we have seen this resulting in the deaths of various learners. Please, what can you, as Minister of Safety and Security, say today that will allay the fears in the hearts of parents that our children are now not even safe at school?]