Drugs seized during a raid on local school

What is assumed to be a lunchtime drink – a 750ml bottle of beer – was discovered in the possession of a grade nine learner from Kamhola High School in Emjindini when the Barberton SAPS and White River K9 unit raided the school last Thursday.

The officers and teachers were appalled by some of the items that were seized: four knives, cigarettes, match boxes filled with dagga, lighters and paper for rolling dagga joints. The school was raided after its teachers appealed to authorities for help.

While conducting the search from class to class with the help of sniffer dogs, police explained to pupils why they were doing the raid. “We want you to be safe at school. We want you to focus on your studies,” Const Tutu Nkosi said.

According to Nkosi, police have received numerous requests for assistance at schools. “More and more principals are calling on us to carry out searches to ensure the safety of their learners. These operations are just one part of our approach and will be a continuous thing. From time to time we will also raid schools without warning,” said Nkosi.

One teacher at Kamhola, speaking to this reporter during the raid, said the situation in local schools required serious attention as they (teachers) were struggling to teach binge drinking and drug-taking learners.

“They (learners) provoke you deliberately. Some come to class after having taken drugs while others struggle to concentrate because of hangovers from the day before,” said the teacher.

The raid at Kamhola came amid concerns about the abuse of alcohol and drugs at schools in the Barberton circuit.

Community members have often been requested to help the police identify people who sell drugs and alcohol to learners.

Kamhola principal, Joel Ntuli, said it was impossible for the school to achieve good results while the learners were so undisciplined.

“When you discipline them, they retaliate by drinking poison (liquor). This (pointing to the bottle of beer) is their breakfast. Teachers are eventually blamed when the children fail at the end of the year,” said Ntuli.

Meanwhile, the cell phones that were confiscated from the learners during the raid, were returned to them after they threatened to torch the school.