Thursday, 14 March 2013

Save the Children South Africa concerned about Eastern Cape MEC's statement


You’re not entitled to any rights, MEC tells pupils
Save the Children South Africa is alarmed by the alleged statements made by the Eastern Cape MEC for Education, to pupils at the provincial schools’ debate on the premier’s state of the province address. 

 “For you rights comes later in life when you are independent, finished studying and have your own place to stay and your own car.  That is when you can start talking about rights”
Save the Children South Africa works to protect the rights of all children, including their right to physical integrity and dignity, as upheld by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the South African Constitution.  The South African government, which the MEC represents, has signed and ratified both the UNCRC and the ACRWC, and therefore he should be promoting children’s rights instead of feeding children with misinformation. 

“I wish he could have been my child, I would have hit him on the head with a knobkerrie...”
South Africa’s laws provide for the protection of children.  Corporal punishment was banned in schools in 1996, and all aspects of public life such as a sentence by the court, in prisons and in child care institutions.  But, our children are still not safe in the home, often by the very people who should be protecting them.  It is authoritarian parental attitudes, as displayed by the MEC, that makes children unsafe.  Save the Children South Africa advocates for putting an end to all forms of corporal punishment of children in all settings, and promotes positive discipline.  Last year the Department of Social Development announced its support for the call to ban corporal punishment in the home. 

“Some of you were more eloquent and articulate standing here in the podium.  I know some things are too much advanced for you to know and say here.”
We are not surprised at the MEC’s disbelief that children in the Eastern Cape have the ability to be eloquent when they took to the podium, given the education crisis under his leadership, resulting in a massive shortage of educators.  Save the Children South Africa believes that the participation of children in matters that affect them, is paramount to a good educational system.  We therefore, commend those who organised the debate, for providing  children with the opportunity to express their views freely.  We also laud those who educate children to understand and articulate their rights.  Their ability to teach children to think and express themselves, despite a poor education system, cannot be overemphasized. 

We can only hope that a government committed to putting children first will address the issue swiftly and appropriately.

For interviews and further information, please contact: Karen Allan on 012 430 7772