Mpumalanga police targeted three Barberton schools in co-operation with the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison on October 20.

Several knives and small bags of dagga were confiscated from three Barberton schools through the School Safety Programme on Thursday October 20.

The Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison said in a statement that the programme aimed to create a safe environment for both teachers and learners.

A statement by the department said that the programme identified three Barberton schools as problematic and they were then searched by police.

Following the searches, learners pointed out two houses from which marijuana was being supplied and they were subsequently raided by the police.

“The department worked hand in glove with the Department of Education and the South African Police Services,” said the statement.

“Operations were led by members of the police and other stakeholders in the security cluster, such as correctional services, community policing forums and the traffic police.”