Midrand police officers, working alongside various law enforcement stakeholders, visited approximately 36 schools across the area on the first day of the 2026 school year, January 14, as part of a coordinated school safety operation.

The operation began early in the morning with a parade at the Midrand Police Station, where station commander Brigadier Molefi David Tsotsotso addressed officers before they were deployed to schools. The initiative aimed to ensure a safe and orderly start to the academic year for learners, educators, and parents.

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Among the schools visited were Kyalami Independent School, Glen Austin High School, Act House of Education, SPARK School, Midrand High School, and Curro Midrand.

Midrand Police’s Visible Policing (VISPOL) head, Colonel Duka Mokwena, said the focus of the day was to monitor school openings while engaging directly with learners and school management on key safety issues.

“This is a school safety operation that we are conducting today. We are visiting 36 schools. We will be addressing principals and learners on issues such as bullying, drugs, and the possession of dangerous weapons,” said Mokwena.

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He added that the operation also aimed to strengthen relationships between police and schools, ensuring open lines of communication throughout the year.

@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Midrand Police Station commander Brigadier Molefi David Tsotsotso addressed officers in a parade before visiting local schools for the school safety operation. Video: Comfort Makhanya #SAPS #Midrand ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

“It is important for us to familiarise ourselves with the schools we are policing and to engage with principals. Through our Adopted a Cop project, officers regularly visit schools throughout the year. We leave our contact details so that principals know which officers are responsible for their schools and can report any challenges that need police intervention,” he said.

The operation involved a multi-agency approach, with stakeholders including the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), traffic wardens, the Community Policing Forum (CPF) youth desk, as well as SAPS detectives and support services.

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