Learners from Nigel High School suspended for dishing out dagga-laced cookies

Several learners from Nigel High School have been suspended and are facing disciplinary hearings, after police discovered that a batch of space cookies (laced with dagga) was distributed among learners at the school.

 
Space cookies are usually baked biscuits, cakes, brownies or muffins containing dagga.

 
According to police spokesperson Sgt Nellie Dwaba, concerns were initially raised on July 30 when four Grade 8 learners started to behave out of character.

“Their behaviour was strange and erratic and some learners complained about feeling dizzy, while their eyes were red and pupils dilated,” Sgt Dwaba said.

 
The Gauteng Department of Education also responded to the incident, after a tweet was posted by one Teboho on social media on July 31.

“The matter is being investigated. A learner was found in possession of the cookies, but claimed that fellow learners were distributing the drug-laced treats,” Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi told members of the media.

He added that learners who are found in possession of drugs or any illegal substance, will undergo a disciplinary process by the school.

 
HERAUT has since spoken to a Grade 9 learner from the school who said the incident has tarnished the school’s image.

 
“I was shocked to learn that space cookies were distributed among Grade 8 learners who are the youngsters of the school. Preventative measures should be implemented by the school and I also encourage regular visits by the police to conduct random searches,” he said.

 
A parent of one of the four Grade 8 learners who is implicated in the incident told HERAUT that he believes beyond any doubt that his child is innocent.

 
“My child started feeling sick the day before the news broke. We did not know what was wrong with her, but we treated her with some home remedies for headache, dizziness and stomach ache. The following day after she went to school, we received a call from the school informing us that they wanted to see us (the parents) urgently.

We arrived at the school on August 2, only to learn that our child has consumed space cakes, which have apparently been sold by other learners. When we confronted our child, she said that she did not know what the cakes contain, as it was shared with her by a friend.

We received a follow-up call from the school after the meeting, wherein they told us that our child has been temporarily suspended for five days, but that we have to attend the upcoming disciplinary proceedings. In my opinion, my child innocently ate the drug-laced cookie, because she did not buy any of it for herself or her friends, nor did she know what it contained,” the disgruntled parent said.

He added that this incident has placed enormous stress and inconvenience on the family, but they are anticipating a positive outcome after the disciplinary hearing.

 
Meanwhile psycho-social support has been organised for the learners involved, to provide them with life skills to prevent and discourage them from committing similar offences.

 
Sgt Dwaba has also advised parents who may question whether their children are involved in drugs or not, to have them tested at the nearest SANCA branch.

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