Avoid 'pens down' parties, Basic Education urges matrics
Parents are being urged to discourage their children from attending the so-called 'pens down' parties.
One bash to celebrate the end of school exams ended in tragedy in June.
Twenty-one young people who had been attending a party at a packed tavern in East London died, apparently after suffocating.
Elijah Mhlanga from the Department of Basic Education says such gatherings often don't end well.
"As parents we have a huge responsibility to talk to them and alert them of the dangers that are put there. Some of them are avoidable. You can stay at home, take care of yourself, wait for the results and progress into the future.
"Parents, let's not wait for these tragedies to take place before we start blaming the other. You can do this safely, proactively and make sure that we preserve and protect the lives of our young people."
