Six Arrested for Selling Drugs to Learners: Masoyi Schools Caught in Crime Storm

The Masoyi community, nestled in the Mpumalanga province, is no stranger to social challenges, but what happened earlier this month rattled both parents and educators alike. In a disturbing turn of events, six individuals were arrested for allegedly selling drugs to school learners during a multi-agency raid on local schools.

The two-day crackdown, held on June 3 and 4, was part of the government’s wider School Safety Programme, a boots-on-the-ground campaign to create safe learning environments. The arrests followed sweeping search and seizure operations carried out by the South African Police Service (SAPS) alongside the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL), the Department of Education, and several other stakeholders.

A troubling discovery in school corridors

Officials targeted six schools in the Masoyi policing precinct, following ongoing concerns about drug use among learners. What they found was unsettling: not only were narcotics discovered in the possession of some students, but several were quick to identify the adults allegedly supplying them—many of whom were loitering just outside the school gates.

It wasn’t just drugs. The teams also recovered knives and other dangerous objects on school premises, painting a worrying picture of the environment some children are navigating daily.

What does this say about school safety in South Africa?

While South Africa’s schools have made strides in education access, safety remains a critical gap—especially in rural and semi-rural communities. The Integrated School Safety Strategy, the broader framework guiding these interventions, aims to address just that. But as the Masoyi operation shows, keeping learners safe isn’t just about fences and guards; it’s about tackling the deeper social decay at play.

DCSSL spokesperson Moeti Mmusi didn’t mince words: “The proliferation of drugs in schools needs to be tackled. Once learners are intoxicated, they are dangerous to themselves, their fellow learners, and educators.”

Community outrage and the call for parental vigilance

Local residents expressed both relief and frustration on social media. Many applauded the crackdown but questioned how the problem was allowed to grow so unchecked. On Facebook, one concerned parent posted: “This is our children’s future we’re talking about. Schools are becoming hunting grounds for criminals.”

Authorities have echoed this sentiment, urging parents and guardians to play an active role. “Observe your child’s behavior,” Mmusi advised. “Seek help before things get out of hand.”

The arrests have sparked conversations in churches, taverns, and WhatsApp groups alike, with many calling for tighter school perimeters and more frequent searches.

Criminals lurking at the school gate

While the learners caught with narcotics were not immediately charged, the adults who supplied them were taken into custody. Their presence around schools is not an isolated issue, and it speaks to a broader national problem: the infiltration of crime into spaces meant to nurture, not endanger.

Government officials say they’ll continue partnering with stakeholders to keep classrooms safe zones. But community involvement remains essential.

The safety of learners is everyone’s business

The Masoyi drug arrests highlight a sad but urgent truth, schools are increasingly vulnerable to external criminal influences. As government departments continue to do their part, the responsibility to protect South Africa’s learners must be shared across families, community leaders, and educators.

If we want our children to thrive, we need to be honest about the threats they face. And sometimes, that means confronting uncomfortable truths about what’s happening just beyond the school fence.

{Source: The Citizen}

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