Knives, a fork, a scissors and vapes were among the items found in learners’ possession during a stop-and-search operation at Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong, Carletonville, on Tuesday morning.
The discovery was made when the Gauteng Department of Education conducted the operation with the South African Police Service (SAPS), supported by Gauteng Traffic Police, traffic wardens, community policing forums (CPFs), patrollers and community members.
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile said the department had spent the past three months engaging with stakeholders and had received numerous complaints about violence and crime in schools.
“We recently held a press conference on violence and crime in schools and outlined a number of short-, medium- and long-term interventions,” he said.
“One of the short-term measures, which forms part of our health and safety strategy, is conducting regular searches with the police, sometimes with the media present and sometimes without.”
Maile described Badirile Secondary School as one of the province’s most troubled schools.
“There are learners here who threaten teachers, saying they will call zama zamas and criminals to murder educators,” he said.
“We have learners involved in gangsterism. Some of them are not attending classes at all. I checked their books and found nothing. They are not here to learn. They come to school simply to eat the food intended for learners and to terrorise both learners and educators.”
He said the department had received complaints about bullying at the school on social media last week but had chosen not to respond publicly.
“We already knew about the situation because community members had raised it during meetings. We were told this is one of the most notorious schools. There was even a murder at the school earlier this year, and that is how things have spiralled out of control.”
Maile also alleged that five educators had been repeatedly absent from school, failed to teach and visited taverns during school hours.
“Before I leave, I will receive a report from the attendance register because I have instructed our labour relations unit to investigate and take action against them,” he said.
“In fact, these same teachers are the subject of a petition submitted by other educators.”
Maile said he began his visit by checking whether educators were at their posts.
“There were a few educators in the staff room, and when I asked why they were there, they explained they were preparing for lessons and waiting for their timetables. They were able to account for their presence.”
He said those educators also used the opportunity to express their frustrations.
“They spoke about the many problems at the school that have not been addressed.”
Maile said Tuesday’s operation would not be a once-off intervention.
“We have already agreed with the police on what will happen next, although I will not discuss those plans publicly,” he said.
“We are placing this school under the spotlight because we want to ensure there is order within the next few weeks. Apart from crime, violence, bullying and gangsterism, the core issue is a lack of discipline.”
He said the absence of a permanent principal had contributed to the school’s problems.
“I have instructed the district to appoint an acting principal immediately while the process of recruiting a permanent principal gets under way,” he said.
“We need to restore discipline and strengthen parental involvement.”
Maile said parents of learners implicated in disciplinary matters had been instructed to report to the school immediately.
“If they fail to come, I will send officials to their homes. Some of these learners have been suspended, yet they are so brazen and disrespectful that they tear up their suspension letters.”
He highlighted the case of an 18-year-old Grade 9 learner.
“He comes to school only to eat the food provided for learners. When I looked at his books, there was nothing because he does not attend class. We cannot have learners who are not attending class remaining on the school premises.”
Maile said he had instructed officials to take appropriate action.
“I have directed the district director to meet with all educators, introduce the new acting principal and address staff. The district director will also meet with the school governing body so that it can fulfil its responsibilities.”
He added that a parents’ meeting would be convened.
“We cannot allow anarchy in our schools. When we said we were going to confront this problem head-on, we were serious.”
Items that were confiscated from learners included knives, a fork, scissors and vapes.
Maile said he would also conduct similar unannounced operations at other schools across the province.
He said the operation forms part of the provincial government’s strategy aimed at tackling violence, bullying and crime in schools.
IOL News
Simon Majadibodu
iol.co.za
