The Sebenza SAPS conducted a high density operation in and around Sebenza on August 5.
The Sebenza SAPS communications officer, Sergeant Sharon Mahamba-Tsotsotso, said the operation was conducted to monitor the situation after the local government elections.
She said from now on, the operation will be conducted every Friday to monitor what is happening in the community.
Sgt Tsotsotso said they received a call while they were busy with the operation.
“SAPS members received a call from someone who said there was a bottle store in Edenglen that was selling alcohol to school children. When the members arrived at the bottle store the children were still in the premises with the alcohol they had bought. One of the children received a message from one of the children who was at a house in Edenglen where they were all going to meet. The police went to the house, where they found more children between the ages of 14 and 16,” said Sgt Tsotsotso.
On arrival, the police found 19 children in total and they all attend one of the schools in the area.
Sgt Tsotsotso said the police called the parents and notified them of what was happening.
“One of the children lives in the house but at the time of the incident, there were no adults. The mother was at work, the father is overseas and the helper was on leave,” said Sgt Tsotsotso.
She said the bottle store owner was arrested and released with a fine and the docket has been sent to the prosecutor to decide what to do next. All the children were released into the care of their parents.
