A search at three Baberton high schools in Mpumalanga revealed that several learners were in possession of drugs and weapons. Two suspected dealers were also arrested as a result of the operation.

The province’s MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe, is impressed with the members of the Traffic Intervention Unit and the police who formed part of the operation.

Items seized included match boxes stashed with compressed dagga, knives and cigarettes. Some of the learners caught with dagga provided information about their suppliers.

This led the team to a nearby car wash where two 20l buckets containing dagga were seized and two suspects arrested.

The school visits are part of the government’s school safety strategy.

“It is deeply disappointing that despite all the programmes and awareness campaigns, we still find these levels of delinquency in some of our schools. Our programmes will continue to be rolled at schools across the province. We remain relentless in our endeavours to make our schools safer for effective learning and teaching,” says Shongwe.

He also blames those who supply the learners with drugs, saying that parents should help to point those out those who corrupt their kids.

“These children are our future. We should not surrender our country’s future to heartless and unscrupulous people who do not care about it,” he says.

The surprise raid was supported by the SAPS, the Department of Education and the City of Mbombela, among others. It formed part of the build-up to the imbizo that will take place in Barberton on Saturday September 10.