By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

A stop and search operation at Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong, Carltonville, authorities had confiscated a variety of weapons such as knives, forks, scissors and vapes from the students of the school on Tuesday. 

This discovery occurred through the Gauteng Department of Education who conducted the operation with the South African Police Service (SAPS) which was supported by Gauteng traffic police, traffic wardens, community policing forums, patrollers and community members.

 MEC of Gauteng Education Lebogang Maile stated that the department had been spending the past three months engaging with stakeholders and had received a number of complaints about violence and crimes occurring in schools.

 “We recently held a media briefing on violence and crime in schools and outlined several short, medium and long term interventions” said Maile. 

“One of the short term measures, which forms part of our health and safety strategy, is conducting regular searches with the police, sometimes with the media present and sometimes without.” he continued. 

Maile stated that Badirile is one of the most troubled schools in the Gauteng province. “There are learners here who threaten teachers, saying that they will call Zama Zamas and criminals to murder educators,” Maile explained.

 “We have learners involved in gangsterism. Some of them are not attending classes at all. I checked their books and found nothing. They are not here to learn. They come to school simply to eat the food intended for learners and to terrorise both learners and educators.” said Maile. 

He also said that the department had received complaints about heavy amounts of bullying at the school via social media last week but had chosen to not respond publicly. 

“We already knew about the situation because community members had raised it during meetings. We were told this is one of the most notorious schools. There was even a murder at school earlier this year, and that is how things have spiralled out of control,” said Maile.

 Maile also stated that allegedly five educators had been reportedly absent from school, failed to teach as well as visited taverns during school hours. “Before I leave, I will receive a report from the attendance register because I have instructed our labour relations unit to investigate and take action against them” he said.