THANKS to the Bela Bill, no booze will be sold during school's events.
And Leondale Secondary School pupils celebrated the removal of Clause 8 Section 8a from the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill, which sought to allow the sale of alcohol in schools for fundraising purposes.
This after the school joined hands with the anti-drug organisation, World Changers Candidate and launched the petition to oppose the clause.
In August 2023, the Basic Education Portfolio Committee removed the clause on the sale of alcohol in schools following consensus from the public’s input that the sale of alcohol would “lead people into temptation”.
This means no alcohol will be sold on school premises during fundraising events.
World Changers Candidate and the school hosted a celebration in Leondale, Ekurhuleni on Friday, 20 October. Pupils told Daily Sun they welcomed the scrapping of the bill.
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Sibongile Dlamini, a grade 12 pupil and World Changers Candidate ambassador, said their school shocked South Africans in 2022 when a video of pupils throwing a dagga party on school premises and in school uniform went viral.
She said the amendment bill would bring changes to their school.
She said: “With the organisations such as World Changer Candidates we have been able to recover and also see the meaningful ways of living without drugs and other substances.
“I'm willing to use my experience and knowledge to help other pupils who are struggling with drugs and alcohol abuse to change our country for the better.”
Kwanda Dlamini, a grade 10 pupil, said the removal of alcohol sales from the Bela Bill means a lot to their school.
“It made us realise how standing together we can change laws.”
Another grade 10 pupil, Swazi Lukhalo, said they will not let their past define their future. “Our school has changed for the better since the dagga party happened.
“But we have support groups facilitated by World Changers Candidate to educate our peers and schoolmates that drugs are destroying many lives and we need to stay away from drugs and other substances.”
