Education Minister speaks with a forked tongue

Cheryllyn Dudley MP (ACDP)

Wednesday, 20 June 2001


"Our Education Minister speaks with a forked tongue!" says Cheryllyn
Dudley MP for the African Christian Democratic Party.

On the 13th June Minister Kadar Asmal was quoted in the Cape Times as
having said that he would initiate a collective campaign against crime
and violence in schools, and that plans for crime prevention, as well as
prevention of drug and substance abuse programmes were already in the
pipeline.

Five days later it is reported that Minister Asmal and his provincial
counterparts have placed a moratorium on random drug testing at schools.
On the grounds that he has obtained advice on the constitutional
implications of such testing. General consent from parents and learners
apparently do not satisfy the requirements of the bill of rights.

Mrs Dudley said, "It is not Kadar Asmal or his provincial counterparts
who live with the pain and trauma of lives being ruined by drugs, it is
the parents, the teachers and the students themselves." Mrs Dudley whose
own 18 year old nephew had his throat cut just 18 months ago in a drug
related murder, said that perhaps her nephew Jodi, would still be alive
today if our country's constitution was not so busy protecting learners
rights from "not being harassed", while ignoring the fact that learners
are being targeted daily by drug dealers and drug lords with whom they
are out of their depth with and powerless to handle.

"This is the precise madness that occurs when the logic of a mere piece
of paper takes precedence over the Almighty God who cares for His
creation."


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For more information please call Cheryllyn Dudley MP at 082 8906520 or
ACDP Media Liaison Liza Lambert at 082 4781037