Random school searches gain momentum
Two schools were visited by Modderbee Men’s Forum, KwaThema SAPS and the EMPD last week.
KwaThema – It wasn’t an ordinary morning when officials from Modderbee Men’s Forum, KwaThema SAPS and the EMPD made unannounced visits to two schools.
Lefa-Ifa Secondary School and Tlakula Secondary School learners were greeted with random searches on Thursday morning.
Zakhele Shabalala, the chairperson of Modderbee Men’s Forum at the Modderbee Prison, says his team remains committed to making schools ‘safe zones’.
“We hit the ground running to ensure that the schools in the townships do not get out of control.
“Not under our watch.”
They found marijuana, cigarettes and weapons on some of the learners.
Mbuyiseni Nxumalo, the principal of Lefa-Ifa Secondary School, says the informal settlements around the school pose an immediate danger to the learners.
“There are syndicates that are operating and using learners as foot soldiers in the school.
“They target female learners because it is harder for us to identify anything they hide under their uniforms.”
He says the presence of settlers around the school’s fence makes it easy for thugs to gain entry to the school.
“People sneak into the school and when we find them the just say they are learners and they can’t afford school uniforms.”
He says many learners had been under suspicion, but not much could be done because the staff cannot search them.
In fact, he says two learners refused to be searched by the officials, claiming they have rights
“The syndicates see learners as easy targets to make quick money.
“We need to move the settlements away from the school because it is not safe,” he adds.
Nxumalo says in one of the meetings a parent alleged that a learner was robbed in one of the informal settlements on their way to school.
Captain Thabo Sibuye of KwaThema SAPS says the whole community needs to make an effort.
“There are many people who know of illegal activities that take place in schools by learners, but we do nothing to prevent it.
“Parents need to be observant and tip us off when they have any suspicions.”
Also read: Schools must be crime-free zones
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