Although the Constitutional Court has ruled that the consumption of dagga limited to private personal use is no longer a criminal offence, the MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, has warned learners not to use dagga as it might lead to mental illness.
Speaking during the back-to-school campaign last Thursday at Ligege Secondary School in Duthuni, Ramathuba urged the learners to refrain from substance abuse and focus on their studies. She was accompanied by local ward councillors and health professionals.
The school achieved a 93.3% past rate last year. She encouraged the matriculants to emulate last year's results. "Last year's learners have set the standard for you, so you should work very hard. I want to see some of you shaking hands with the premier and the MECs at The Ranch hotel next year in January. I don't just visit schools for fun. My visit here is to motivate you to work harder, so that you can achieve 100%," she said.
Many young people love Brazilian hair and when they cannot afford it, since the style is expensive, they date blessers to get it, she said. "You should be proud of your natural hair and stop running after Brazilian hair because it will make you date sugar daddies. You will get diseases if you indulge yourself in that kind of behaviour. Zozibini Tunzi won Miss South Africa with her natural hair and that should serve as a motivation to you that natural hair is beautiful."
With teenage pregnancy so rife in local schools, she told learners to use protection when they engaged in sexual activities. "Sleep with your books, not boys. You should learn to say, 'no condom, no sex'. Please focus on your studies. It really hurts to see learners dropping out of school because they are pregnant. Don't make your teachers midwives. They are here to teach you, so don't fall pregnant. Respect your teachers like you do your parents," she said.
"Your school has the potential to enable all of you to pass. If you managed to achieve 93.3%, it means it's possible to get 100%," she said.