They have repeatedly led to injury, trauma, and even loss of life, said Northern Cape education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe. As the matric exams come to an end, communities and families are urged to host or support safe, supervised celebrations.

The Northern Cape, North West, and Free State departments of education urged learners to prioritise safety over risky celebrations, such as pens-down parties. They’ve repeatedly led to injury, trauma, and even loss of life. Officials cautioned young people to prioritise safety above all else, and to avoid unsupervised pen-down parties as they can “quickly spiral into danger”.

“Every year, lives are lost, and futures are destroyed because of one night meant to be a celebration,” said Van der Merwe. “We cannot ignore the reality that many matriculants attending these parties are underage, vulnerable to peer pressure, and exposed to environments where safety cannot be guaranteed.

“There are better, safer, and more meaningful ways to celebrate the end of examinations,” he added, where young people can enjoy themselves in a managed environment. “Let us choose safety, and let us choose responsibility and not risk the future for a single night of unsafe festivities.”

The department of basic education also issued a warning against unsupervised pens-down gatherings, saying they were likely to spiral out of control within minutes when there is no planning or responsible adult supervision. The common risks of these parties include excessive drinking, physical fights and assault, and harassment.

Officials caution young people to prioritise safety above all else. Photo: gov.za

Parents, guardians, teachers, and community leaders are urged to work together to discourage risky celebrations and to remind learners that their actions reflect not only on themselves but also on their schools and families.

North West MEC Viola Motsumi added: “Pens-down parties are not official school activities. They are unsafe and have no place in our efforts to protect and nurture the future of our young people.”

While Free State MEC Dr Julia Maboya said: “Many of these parties have led to unpleasant incidents and even the untimely death of many of our children. We encourage schools, parents, and our communities to be on the lookout for the planning and hosting of these parties.

The basic education department asked anyone who suspects dangerous gatherings or sees promoters advertising shady pen-down events to report them to their schools, the police, community leaders, or parents.

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OFM News/Zenande Mpame mvh