Drugs and abortion pills seized in Gauteng police raids at 17 schools

Police-led search-and-seize operations at schools across Gauteng on Wednesday uncovered drugs, abortion pills and other prohibited items as authorities step up efforts to keep dangerous substances off school premises.

Scope of the operations

The Gauteng Education Department said the latest round of searches brought the total number of schools searched to 17. The operations were conducted on Wednesday and were led by police as part of ongoing efforts to remove weapons, drugs and other illegal items from school grounds.

Items recovered and incidents reported

Authorities reported the seizure of nyaope, abortion pills and a substantial quantity of dagga during the searches. The department named several schools searched on Wednesday, including Baleseng Junior Secondary School, Tiyelelani Secondary School, Ngaka Maseko Secondary School, Holy Trinity Secondary School and FR Smangaliso Mkhathwa Secondary School.

In one incident a female pupil was found in possession of a large amount of dagga. In another, a pupil carrying small packets of dagga reportedly admitted to being recruited by a local drug dealer to sell the drug.

Provincial response and programme link

Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile said the discoveries were cause for alarm and signalled that criminal networks are increasingly targeting vulnerable learners. He described the use of children in drug distribution as an attack on communities’ future.

“These discoveries are extremely concerning. Our children must never be used as instruments for criminal activity. Those who target learners and use them to distribute drugs are attacking the future of our communities,” Maile said.

The searches are part of the province’s broader school safety strategy and are linked to the It Takes a Village to Raise a Child programme, which the department said aims to mobilise communities, parents and government institutions to protect pupils.

Maile emphasised that addressing drug abuse, violence and other safety threats in schools requires a joint effort across sectors.

“It takes a village to raise a child. Schools cannot confront these challenges alone. Parents, communities, law enforcement agencies, school governing bodies and government must work together to protect our children and ensure that schools remain safe and conducive environments for learning,” he said.

Next steps

The Gauteng Education Department said operations will continue across the province as authorities seek to strengthen discipline, improve safety and prevent dangerous substances and weapons from entering schools.