Boksburg’s law enforcement agencies, with the provincial community safety department, pounced on learners at the targeted two high schools in Reiger Park on the morning of January 27.
During the surprise visit to Oosrand Secondary School and Reiger Park Secondary School, several packets of dagga, a knife, boxes of matches and dagga or tobacco rolling papers were found and confiscated.
The learners who were found in possession of the aforementioned items on the premises of schools are being dealt with by authorities and the school’s management.
The Reiger Park police vowed to continue doing raids until drugs are no longer a problem at the targeted high schools.
Use of drugs among learners
In a recent interview, several sources in the area, including educators at Oosrand Secondary, complained about children using drugs at school, and saying a number of learners at the schools are substance abusers, and others arrive at school already high on something.
The sources added it is suspected that dozens of learners might be involved in the buying and selling of drugs, and educators believe that those learners are at the centre of all the bad behaviour, such as fights, delinquency and causing disruptions, at schools, thus negatively impacting the schools’ performance.
Oosrand Secondary principal Lincoln van Ross recently alluded to being made aware of reports that alleged substance abuse among a number of their learners. He urged parents to work with the school in ensuring their children are not involved in any anti-social activities.
Additional police units deployed
The school searches come in the wake of deadly violence believed to be fuelled by the drug trade.
These and other violent incidents prompted the SAPS to deploy additional police units in the area, which saw members of the Gauteng Anti-gang Unit making a major drug bust where they pounced on two men believed to be one of the township’s well-known drug peddlers.
