Select Committee on Education Offers Condolences to East London “Pens‑Down” Party Victims

The Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries in Parliament has extended its deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the tragic events at a “pens‑down” party in Nompumelelo township, near East London. Two young people were killed and seven others injured during a deliberate attack at the event, which occurred over the weekend .

Committee Chairperson Makhi Feni described the attack as both shocking and emblematic of broader societal issues. “Two people were reported dead and seven others injured … after what seems to be a deliberate attack on party revelers,” the statement read. The committee urged law enforcement to leave “no stone unturned” in investigating the perpetrators.

Highlighting the dangerous intersection of youth celebrations and alcohol consumption, Feni warned that “Social gatherings where learners are allowed to use alcohol should be criminalised,” adding that parents and communities must reflect on how learners gain easy access to alcohol.

Trending

6 Places You Can Collect SASSA Grants Without Long Queues

The inked statement also recalled the somber three-year anniversary of the Enyobeni Tavern disaster, which claimed 21 young lives, noting the continuing failure to implement safer youth-focused alternatives. Feni confirmed that the Eastern Cape Department of Education will investigate whether any students were involved in the attack and provide necessary support to affected learners.

The committee lauded recent provincial efforts, such as MEC Nonkqubela Pieters’s underage drinking summit and an awareness run organised by the Liquor Board, as steps toward addressing the culture of dangerous youth gatherings. The statement concluded with a resolution that such tragedies must be met with firm preventative measures, legal accountability, and community action to ensure learners can celebrate milestones safely.