By Levy Masiteng
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile said that school safety cannot be left to government and police alone, calling on parents, School Governing Bodies (SGBs) and educators to take greater responsibility after another round of search-and-seizure operations uncovered more than 120 prohibited items at six schools in the Vaal.
Maile, who joined South African Police Service (SAPS)-led operations in Sebokeng, Vanderbijlpark, Bophelong and Sharpeville on Wednesday, said the department would increase the raids and the number of schools targeted each day.
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“We want the parents and SGBs to be there and help us in tackling issues in schools,” Maile said.
“There were schools where some of the educators were not in class. We also have an educator problem. It is not just the learner problem. We are playing our part and we request everyone to play their part. We will not get tired, we will increase the number of schools we raid per day.”
The latest operation saw six schools searched which included Sehopotso Secondary School and Botebo-Tsebo Secondary School in Sebokeng, Residensia Secondary School in Vanderbijlpark, Sapphire Secondary School in Bophelong, Mahareng Secondary School in the Vanderbijlpark area, and Lekoa Shandu Secondary School in Sharpeville.
A total of 123 prohibited items were recovered, including 43 disposable vapes, 29 pairs of scissors, four knives, 10 broken mirrors, five boxes of matches, 30 items containing oil spice, a mathematics instrument and a “space cookie”.
The operation also came a day after Maile alleged that learners at Sapphire Secondary School had humiliated the principal by pouring water over him.
Maile also raised a separate concern over food being sold or found at schools.
“We have seized unregulated food items which have not been tested and if one [child] gets sick and dies from them, it will be our responsibility as the department,” he said.
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“That is why we are going to ask the MEC for health that they should start coming to schools and check the food that the department provides and cooks for learners, look at the school kitchens, cleanliness of those kitchens, because we give 1.7 million learners meals, breakfast and lunch every day in Gauteng.”
He said that although no incidents had been reported, the department wanted preventative measures in place.
The latest searches brought the number of Gauteng schools targeted through the ongoing operations to 23.
In August, Inside Education reported that searches at three Alexandra high schools resulted in the seizure of more than 109 prohibited items, including suspected dagga, disposable vapes, cigarettes, broken glass, scissors and other objects.
The department subsequently reported that searches at another five schools brought the provincial total to 17, with authorities recovering suspected dagga, nyaope and abortion pills.
In one case, a learner was allegedly found with dagga, while another learner reportedly told officials that a drug dealer had recruited him to sell the substance.
The department has previously identified crime, violence, bullying, gangsterism, substance abuse and dangerous weapons among the major threats facing Gauteng schools.
“Parents have a critical role to play in teaching children discipline, responsibility and respect. We must all take responsibility for creating an environment in which our children can learn, grow and thrive,” Maile said.
