Gauteng searches recover 123 prohibited items at six schools

Search-and-seizure operations at six Gauteng schools on 2 September recovered 123 prohibited items, the Gauteng Education Department said, as officials moved to remove drugs, weapons and other dangerous objects from school grounds.

What was found

The department said the operation yielded 123 prohibited items, including 43 disposable vapes, 29 pairs of scissors, four knives, 10 pieces of broken mirror, five boxes of matches and 30 items containing oil spice. The list of seized items also included one mathematics instrument, one space cookie and other objects.

The department described “oil spice” as a dangerous drug cocktail made from used fast-food cooking oil blended with chemicals and synthetic drugs.

Where the searches took place

Searches were carried out at six secondary schools across Gauteng:

• Sehopotso Secondary School, Sebokeng
• Botebo-Tsebo Secondary School, Sebokeng
• Residentia Secondary School, Vanderbijlpark
• Sapphire Secondary School, Bophelong
• Mahareng Secondary School, Sharpeville
• Lekoa Shandu Secondary School, Sharpeville

Leadership and purpose

The operation was led by Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile in partnership with the police and is part of broader efforts to strengthen school safety and discipline. The department said the latest operations bring the total number of schools searched across the province to 23.

“These operations are necessary because we cannot afford to allow our schools to become spaces where prohibited substances, dangerous objects and other harmful items are allowed to circulate.”

Speaking to media during the operation at Sapphire Secondary School, Maile stressed collective responsibility and called on parents to take an active role. He said the searches form part of interventions under the “It Takes A Village To Raise A Child” programme.

“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.”

Ongoing operations and partners

The Gauteng Education Department said the operations will continue unannounced on a weekly basis, with multiple operations taking place simultaneously across the province. The department thanked the continued partnership of the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Gauteng Department of Community Safety and private security partners.

Images and on-the-ground detail