BARRAGE – An unannounced police raid at a Barrage farm school has revealed a shocking new trend among pupils.
This comes after police went on a clampdown operation for drugs and weapons at Ramosukula Secondary School to keep schools safe.
But the confiscation of dozens of vapes, among many other contrabands, raised concerns for the school.
On October 14, women and men in blue, together with Gauteng Traffic Wardens, Siyabangena Patrollers, and Community Safety officials, swept the school.
During their arrival around 08:00, the law enforcers caught learners completely off guard as they combed through classrooms, bags, and pockets in a full-scale safety inspection.
According to police spokesperson Sergeant Sophia Gaboutlwelwe, the operation was part of a campaign to promote a safe and secure learning environment and to remind learners that the SAPS “may and will come at any time” to maintain school safety.
“The other focus was to promote a positive and focused learning atmosphere,” said Gaboutlwelwe.
About seven SAPS officers led the search operation, targeting around 100 learners, mainly those from what teachers call the “problematic classes.”
Following the raid, no dangerous weapons or illegal drugs were seized; however, an alarming discovery of vapes left law enforcers in awe.
“We are seeing a concerning trend in most schools where learners are buying and smoking vapes. This is equally harmful, especially to pupils or youngsters,” warned Gaboutlwelwe.
Police and safety officials have since called for more awareness campaigns on substance abuse, as vaping, once marketed as a “safer” alternative, is quickly becoming a new classroom crisis.
SIDE BAR:
A study was conducted on vapes, once marketed as a smoking cessation aid for adults. E-cigarettes have become alarmingly popular among teenagers, sparking concerns about nicotine addiction and long-term health effects.
Research officers Sam Filby from the Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products and Richard van Zyl Smit, an Associate Professor and Consultant Pulmonologist—both from the University of Cape Town—compiled a report on South African students’ vaping habits published on ‘The Conversation’.
Research has shown conclusively that children should not use these products because of the health risks.
· 16.8% of high school learners surveyed were currently using e-cigarettes. There were far lower rates of tobacco cigarette use (2%), cannabis use (5%), and hookah pipe use (3%).
· The proportion of learners reporting e-cigarette use increased by grade: around 9% of Grade Eight students reported using vapes, but this rose sharply to an average of 29.5% among Grade 12 pupils (who will turn 18 in their final school year). Some schools had usage rates as high as 46% among Grade 12 pupils.
