Cellphones, knife and dagga recovered in school raid

Berea SAPS with support from Mayville SAPS, Umbilo SAPS, Durban Central the K9 Unit and Durban Metro Police held a joint police operation at Sastri College to ensure safety at the school.

February 26, 2016

Lorna Charles 1 minute read

Captain TD Gumede speaks to a class while W/O Makhanya search's a pupil during the joint police operation at Sastri College.

THREE cellphones, cigarettes, a knife and a small amount of dagga were confiscated by Berea police during a safety operation at Sastri College this morning.

According to Captain TD Gumede, communications officer at Berea SAPS, the operation was aimed at maintaining a culture of safety and learning at the school. “We want you all to be safe,” Gumede said when addressing the learners at one of the classes at Sastri College “And we are here to make sure that the school is safe and there are no dangerous weapons or drugs in classrooms.”

Various members from Berea SAPS with support from Mayville SAPS, Umbilo SAPS, Durban Central the K9 Unit and Durban Metro Police joined the joint police operation at the school, searching each classroom, learner and backpack. Members spoke to learners about the ramifications of carrying or selling drugs as well as weapons in school while conducting the search.

“Three cellphones, a handful of cigarettes and a knife were confiscated from learners, while a small packet containing a white powdery substance suspected to be drugs, was found thrown out a classroom window,” added Gumede.

Colonel WR Xulu, acting station commander at Berea SAPS said the operation at the school will be followed up with random searches and talks by members of Berea's social crime prevention unit to further discourage the use of drugs and other illegal substances.