‘Buy school supplies before booze’, says mayor

Parents must buy school necessities for their children before thinking of buying bulk alcohol for the Christmas holidays.

This was the sentiment of Big 5 Hlabisa Mayor Comfort Khumalo, who was speaking at a 16 Days of Activism and anti-bullying awareness campaign in Hluhluwe on Wednesday.

Khumalo told attendees he was extremely concerned that parents hire minibus taxis to take them to the beach, and buy large quantities of liquor, but forget to buy school supplies for their children.

“This year, I advise all of you that before you go to the pub or the beach, first buy school supplies for your children so there will be no problem when schools reopens next year,” he said.

Parents were also advised to stop drinking in the presence of their children, especially Bella residents.

This after reports that some parents in the area consume alcohol in the presence of their children and when they are drunk, they strip naked.

Khumalo said this would cause a negative physiological impact on the minors. A member of the Girl Guide organisation, Hloniphile Mhlongo said many schools face various challenges such as violent children.

“Many of these children from such homes behave differently. They talk about shocking things because of the challenges they experience in their homes,” said Mhlongo.

“These things cause some children to be violent and abuse others at school. Violent children end up being expelled from school and when we do a follow-up, we discover the behaviour is a result of parents drinking, fighting, and all sorts of wrong things in the presence of their children.”

Police members also raised serious concerns about the behaviour of parents, especially women who force their children to withdraw rape cases in exchange for goats.

Speaking during the event, Constable Bravo Mngomezulu said it is painful that children trust their parents, but their mothers betray them by taking money or goats from the alleged rapist so the case can be withdrawn.

“I urge nurses to call us when they are visited by a pregnant juvenile girl so we can arrest the perpetrators who are taking advantage of young girls, ” said Mngomezulu.

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