The Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE) has issued a statement warning the public against conducting unlawful search-and-seizure operations at schools. This follows reports that a group of community members entered Cibiliza and Mafu secondary schools in the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality to conduct searches.

It is further alleged that during these actions, learners were assaulted and personal belongings were confiscated.

Gerald Sambo, spokesperson for the DoE, said the department emphasises that any searches conducted within a public school must comply with the law.

“In terms of Section 8A of the South African Schools Act, the authority to conduct a search and seizure is limited to the school principal or a person formally delegated in writing by the principal or the SAPS, acting within the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act.”

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Sambo said no community member, parent, or group has the legal authority to enter a school and conduct searches of learners. According to him, such actions constitute a violation of learners’ constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, freedom and security of the person.

Sambo warned that any action taken outside the legal framework exposes learners and schools to serious legal and safety risks. In light of the incident, the affected schools had no alternative but to open criminal cases with the SAPS to ensure that the matter is properly investigated.

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“We call upon all community members to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. Concerns regarding drugs, weapons, or any form of misconduct in schools must be reported to school management or to SAPS so that appropriate and lawful processes can be followed. The safety and protection of learners remain our highest priority,” concluded Sambo.