More than 1 000 matric pupils from schools around Mdantsane are due to attend the inaugural anti-pens-down campaign this Friday, the Dr Noma Mbeki Foundation said. The event aims to offer a supervised, safer option for learners once their final examinations conclude and to deter unsupervised celebrations that the foundation says have been linked to harm.
Community safety and transitions out of school
The campaign will be held at the Old Coca-Cola Building in Mdantsane Unit 3 from 12:30. According to the foundation, the initiative seeks to reduce the risks learners face during traditional pens-down celebrations — including exposure to alcohol and drugs, violence and other harms that may derail their education and post-school plans.
"The campaign forms part of a broader effort to protect young people as they transition out of high school and prepare for further education, employment and other opportunities," the foundation said.
Organisers said learners will be transported from schools across Mdantsane to the venue. The foundation cited reports from previous years that it said documented incidents in which matric pupils were allegedly exposed to criminal activity during unsupervised celebrations, and that some young people were subsequently affected by substance abuse, violence or other circumstances that could disrupt their education.
Who will attend
The foundation has invited a range of leaders and government representatives. Among those expected to be present are key provincial and municipal figures:
- Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane
- Education MEC Fundile Gade
- Cooperative Governance MEC Xolile Nqatha
- Buffalo City Metro Executive Mayor Princess Faku
The presence of these officials underlines the campaign’s dual focus: immediate learner safety and broader attention to the transition from school to further study or work. The foundation has framed the event as both a preventative measure and a public demonstration of community support for matriculants.
Programme aims and local context
Organisers said the anti-pens-down campaign will provide structured activities and messaging intended to offer alternatives to unsupervised celebrations. The foundation emphasised protection of learners at a critical moment when many are weighing next steps after high school.
For Mdantsane — one of the largest urban townships in the Eastern Cape with a dense school population and active civic networks — the campaign intersects with other municipal responsibilities: transport logistics for large groups of learners, public safety at events, and co-ordination between education authorities and community organisations.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | First annual anti-pens-down campaign |
| Date & time | Friday, from 12:30 |
| Venue | Old Coca-Cola Building, Mdantsane Unit 3 |
| Expected attendees | More than 1 000 matric pupils |
Education authorities and local government representatives were invited to attend and lend support. The campaign also aims to communicate resources and pathways for learners as they prepare for further education, training or employment.
Questions for the metro and the education department arising from the event include how transport and safety will be managed for the assembled learners, and what follow-up measures will be in place to address any incidents that might arise during or after the gathering. The foundation has positioned the campaign as a starting point for protecting learners during a vulnerable transition, but its longer-term impact will depend on sustained cooperation between schools, civic groups and government.
The information in this report is based on details supplied by the Dr Noma Mbeki Foundation.
