The Mpumalanga MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe, has lauded the members of the Traffic Intervention Unit and the police for seizing dangerous weapons from some of the learners at a search and seizure operation conducted at three high schools in Barberton on Thursday.
The items included several boxes of matches stashed with compressed dagga, knives and cigarettes. Some of the learners caught with dagga provided information about their suppliers.
This subsequently led the team to a nearby car wash where two 20L buckets containing dagga were seized and two suspects arrested. These visits are part of the Government’s broader School Safety Strategy.
“It is deeply disappointing that despite all the programmes and awareness campaigns that the department and stakeholders conduct in schools, we still find these levels of delinquency in some of our schools. Our programmes will continue to be rolled at schools across the province. We remain relentless in our endeavours to make our schools safer for effective learning and teaching,” said Shongwe after the surprise raid.
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He also blamed those who supply the learners with drugs, saying that parents should help to point those out who corrupt their kids. “These children are our future. We should not surrender our country’s future to heartless and unscrupulous people who do not care about it,” he said.
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Shongwe requested learners and young people to become more focused on their studies and lead positive lifestyles. The surprise raid was supported by the SAPS, the Department of Education and the City of Mbombela, among others. It formed part of the build-up to the imbizo that will take place in Barberton on Saturday September 10.
