Due to the increasing number of instances where prohibited items have been found in educational institutions, public organizations are calling on authorities to tighten security and penalties.
The KwaZulu-Natal Parents Association insists on introducing harsher sanctions, including imprisonment, for students who bring prohibited items onto school grounds. This call was made by Chairperson Wi Gani after police and a private security company discovered illegal items at a school in Pinetown. Similar raids are being conducted across the country in various schools.
School Safety Operations
K9 Excellerate Security reported that a joint school safety operation, conducted by the Pinetown Social Crime Police in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and local community representatives, resulted in the seizure of prohibited substances and items during a drug awareness campaign at a local school.
According to Excellerate, this initiative is part of an ongoing program aimed at educating students about the dangers of drug use, crime, and possessing dangerous weapons, as well as creating a safer educational environment. The Pinetown Police checked several classrooms, seizing items such as dagga bags, cigarettes, vapes, white powder, presumed cocaine, and a replica firearm.
Activities in Gauteng
On August 4, the Orange Farms District Police conducted an operation aimed at combating the possession of dangerous weapons, substance abuse, banditry, and other illegal activities in schools. During this operation, two suspects were arrested after crystal methamphetamine was discovered on them. The Orange Farms station commander, Brigadier Mashole Manamela, reported that the police also confiscated a dagga, sharp tools, scissors, cigarettes, dining forks, and matches.
Manamela appealed to the community to report any suspicious or criminal activities occurring in or around schools, emphasizing that community cooperation is crucial for creating a safe learning environment. The police strongly urged the community to actively combat drug use, school violence, vandalism, and illegal initiation schools.
Raids in Tshwane
Tshwane District Director, Major General Samuel Thayne, stated that the Ekangala police, in cooperation with the Community Policing Forum (CPF), Ekangala patrols, and the Department of Public Safety, visited Specialization School on August 8. The goal of this raid was to ensure the safety of students and staff in Tshwane district schools.