More than 100 illegal items were confiscated when police raided three high schools in Alexandra, Gauteng, on Wednesday.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) led an unannounced search and seizure operation to strengthen school safety and combat substance abuse, dangerous weapons and other prohibited items in Gauteng schools. The police raid formed part of routine and random searches for prohibited items in line with school codes of conduct and the Safety in Schools Policy.
Disposable vapes, glass shards, matchboxes and scissors were among the most commonly recovered prohibited items.
Lebogang Maile, the MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, said police targeted East Bank, Realogile and Alexandra high schools, where searches resulted in the seizure of more than 100 items.
He said school safety cannot be the responsibility of the government, educators and law enforcement agencies alone, calling on parents and communities to become active participants in protecting schools.
East Bank High School
Maile reported that at East Bank High School, approximately 40 items were seized. These included eight disposable vape devices; cigarettes; three hand-rolled cigarettes suspected to be dagga joints; a sealed box of cigarettes; three matchboxes; two grinders; eight small plastic sachets containing a green leafy substance suspected to be dagga; three pairs of scissors; two folding knives or multi-tools; four glass shards and other miscellaneous items.
Realogile High School
At Realogile High School, more than 41 items were seized. These included seven disposable vape devices, six glass or mirror shards, three pairs of scissors, two matchboxes and other miscellaneous items. More than 20 muffins or cupcakes were also recovered and will be inspected to establish whether they contain any prohibited substances.
Alexandra High School
At Alexandra High School, 28 items were seized, including five disposable vape devices; six small plastic sachets containing a substance suspected to be dagga, four matchboxes, two large pieces of broken glass, a folding multi-tool containing a knife and pliers, a spanner or wrench, and an improvised metal tool, among other items.
Overall, the SAPS-led operation resulted in the seizure of 14 sachets containing substances suspected to be dagga and three suspected dagga joints, as well as knives, tools capable of being used as weapons, glass shards, scissors, vapes, cigarettes, matchboxes and grinders.
Maile was concerned about the nature of items being brought onto school premises, particularly suspected drugs and objects capable of causing serious injury.
“These items have absolutely no place in an environment intended for teaching and learning. These unannounced operations are necessary to protect learners and educators and ensure that our schools remain safe. We will continue supporting SAPS and other law enforcement agencies in conducting random searches because learners must understand that bringing drugs, weapons and other prohibited items onto school premises will have consequences,” Maile added.
Sacred spaces
He urged parents to regularly check what their children are carrying to school. He said schools are a microcosm of society, and keeping them safe requires all of society to play its part.
“Where seized substances are suspected to be illegal drugs, the appropriate processes will be followed to establish their contents. Learners found in possession of prohibited items will also be dealt with in accordance with relevant school disciplinary processes, while matters involving suspected criminal conduct will be handled by SAPS,” Maile said.
He said schools are sacred spaces for education and people cannot allow drugs, weapons, violence or criminal behaviour to rob learners of their constitutional right to education.
IOL
Zainul Dawood
iol.co.za
