By Levy Masiteng
Four schools in Daveyton and Etwatwa were searched on Wednesday in Gauteng’s school safety crackdown, with items seized including a bullet, dagga, vapes, cigarettes and other prohibited items.
The SAPS-led operation was joined by Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile and targeted Phandimfundo Secondary School, Lekamoso Secondary School, Rivoni Secondary School and Hulwazi Secondary School, with learners and school premises searched.
“At Phandimfundo and Lekamoso, officials seized 31 prohibited items, including seven vapes, six small bags of dagga, four loose cigarettes, four pairs of scissors, four boxes of matches and two containers of suspected drugs,” the department said.
At Rivoni Secondary School, a bullet was found concealed inside the arm-strap worn by a learner.
Vapes, an Okapi knife and other prohibited items were also seized.
Recent raids at schools throughout the province have repeatedly uncovered vapes and dagga.
In August alone, more than 100 prohibited items, including disposable vapes and suspected dagga, were seized during searches at three Alexandra high schools.
“It’s a routine for us on Wednesdays to join these searches unannounced throughout the province, but these searches happen regularly,” Maile said.
The province has identified school violence, substance abuse and criminal activity as major threats to teaching and learning.
