Deputy Speaker, let me reconfirm what I have said, namely that there were indeed financial difficulties, especially in the Northern Cape. However, fortunately for us nationally Treasury did assist us financially although the programme had not been budgeted for.
Again, hon member Dudley is quite correct that there were difficulties, especially with regard to the camps which we had not planned for. There were some children who were not used to staying away from home. Some of them felt intimidated and there were instances when some of the learners at the camp requested to be released because of threats to burn down their homes.
Therefore, a lot of counselling was needed for learners to cope with the unfamiliar situation of being at the camp. It was quite difficult for the province to deal with children who had just been unceremoniously removed from their homes. Suddenly they found themselves in these camps and we had to run camps which had not been planned.
It was emotionally difficult for both learners and parents and also for the teachers themselves. This was not an easy exercise, particularly in the Northern Cape. However, you are quite correct, we have to deal with this issue. Also, because education is compulsory, parents who refuse to take their children to school are liable and have to be arrested.
That is another issue that I think we need to enforce. If parents refuse to allow their children to go to school and we can prove it, action must be taken. Unfortunately, in the case of the parents who deregistered their children in Grade 12, they cannot be charged because that is not a compulsory phase.
However, for children in the primary phase, which is compulsory, it will be necessary to charge parents who withhold their children from school.