Safety of school kids comes first
One of the parents at the school took it upon himself to make sure that the safety of learners come first.
No more carrying of dangerous weapons and drugs at Thuto Bohlale secondary school in Nellmapius extension 8.
This came after one of the parents at the school took it upon himself to make sure that the safety of learners came first.
Unemployed Sheriff Masuku (55) from Nellmapus extension 8, who is also a parent to the school, has made a point to wake up early in the morning every day to make sure that learners are safe from crime and drugs.
He has dedicated himself by making sure that every day before school starts around 07:00 he stands at the school and search all schoolboys before entering the school premises.
Masuku volunteers at the school for free and decided to start a stop and search safety programme to look for dangerous weapons and drugs.
“The well-being of schoolchildren comes first and it is up to us as parents to make sure that the children are safe at all times,” said Masuku.
Masuku recalls all the things he found from some learners when he first started with the safety programme.
He said he expected learners to carry books in their school bags and other study materials but he was disappointed to find dagga, cigarettes, weapons, match boxes and other drugs.
“But today I am pleased that the learners have since come clean and no longer carry dangerous weapons and drugs.
Masuku said after searching morning search. He patrols the school premises checking the toilets to make sure that no one is in the toilets during school hours.
“After school we meet with the school boys to discuss social issues, bullying and come up with programmes that will keep the learners busy and away from crime and drugs,” said Masuku.
“There is a lot that needs to be done at the school and we are planning to have someone who can assist in searching the school girls in the morning in the morning.”
He said the idea of stop and search at the school started when he saw what was happening in the community of Nellmapius and the issue of drugs at the school, students behaving unruly and bullying.
The school appreciates what Masuku is doing for the school and the community.
Louis Carter, regional executive member of Cosas, said what Masuku was doing for the school was appreciated.
Cosas committed to working with him and has also encouraged other community members to start taking care of their schools.
“The public school is the property of the community and, therefore, the community needs to look after the school and as well as the well-being of learners,” said Carter.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that Sherriff Masuku was a registered parent of a learner at the school since 2020.
He approached the school with a concern about safety at the school stemming from his experiences with his own son.
“The principal engaged the SGB executive on the request to assist the school and permission was granted. The SGB did an informal vetting process and were satisfied with principal Mokgobjoa, after they had a week-long series of meetings with Masuku regarding how to go about with the intended search and seizure process,” said Mabona.
“Searches and seizure are planned with the SAPS as sanctioned by the SGB. The last one was conducted in the third term of 2020 academic year,” he added.
Mabona concluded that there was a close working relationship between the school and SANCA for referral of cases as identified.
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