Parliament, Monday, 27 June 2022 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Elleck Nchabeleng, said the Eastern Cape provincial government needs to move with speed in determining the psycho-social counselling needs for children who were school mates and friends of the victims of the tragedy that happened at the Scenery Park tavern in East London where 21 school-age children passed away on Saturday.
Mr Nchabeleng extended deepest and heartfelt condolences on behalf of the committee to families and friends of the victims of the tragedy. He said: “It has never happened that our country loses children in this manner. This unfortunate and unprecedented incident underscores the importance of vigilance from parents when kids attend events where there is no parental supervision.”
Mr Nchabeleng said the committee is saddened by this tragic incident and called on the society to accept that children will always be children and that accidents of this nature may happen at any time. “Our focus should be to comfort those affected by this tragedy.”
Mr Nchabeleng said everything should be done to hold whoever is responsible for the incident accountable. “Underage children should not have access to alcohol. The committee wishes to reiterate its stance of condemning alcohol abuse not only by children, but everyone. We can’t as a society, raise children who are addicted to alcohol.”
The committee once more sends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this tragic incident. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE, MR ELLECK NCHABELENG
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