Safety at schools has come under the spotlight after learners were found to be in possession of dangerous weapons during random searches by the police.
Major-General Miriam Mochologi, Overberg District Police Commissioner, said weapons were among the contraband found in learners’ possession when the Villiersdorp police embarked on unannounced visits at problematic schools in the area as part of their School Safety programme last week.
She urged parents to check their children’s bags for dangerous weapons and drugs, and emphasised this is not the duty or responsibility of the police or teachers.
“It is the responsibility of every parent to check their children’s school bags and homework,” Mochologi said. “They must foster good relationships with teachers in an effort to understand the behaviour of their children.”
Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department, confirmed the department had received 48 reports of weapons found at schools in the first half of the 2024 school year.
The reasons for learners being in possession of these weapons vary, she pointed out.
“While our schools are dangerous object- and weapon-free zones the sad reality is that sometimes learners carry weapons to school as a means of protection when travelling to and from school.
“In other instances weapons are brought into schools as a means of ‘showing off’ or with the intention to harm others.”
She added there are many challenges in trying to enforce compliance with the weapon-free zones policy.
Challenges in ensuring compliance with weapon-free policy
“While we can place metal detectors at the front door a learner can simply throw a weapon over the school wall or get a weapon ‘delivered’ through a school fence. It is therefore necessary to ensure disciplinary action is taken when learners are found with weapons on the school premises. It is a serious transgression.”
The WCED, said Hammond, is thankful for the police’s assistance with search and seizure operations. “These ‘unexpected’ visits are extremely valuable, and can deter learners from carrying weapons into schools at the risk of being caught,” she stated.
Strict guidelines, however, need to be adhered to when conducting search and seizure operations to ensure compliance with the relevant laws.
“If there is reasonable and reliable evidence that a learner is concealing a dangerous object or illegal substance in the possession of that particular learner,” said Hammond, “the principal may request a member of the South African Police Services to conduct a more extensive search.
“If a learner is found in possession of a dangerous weapon, then disciplinary action may be taken.”Support
The WCED has a number of programmes in place to identify and support youth at risk.
This includes support teams that seek to identify problem behaviours early and make the necessary referrals for support, to avoid disruption and additional stress to teachers and other learners. “Our programmes, encompass both learners and staff to increase resilience across the system,” Hammond said.
The department also offers well-being promotion interventions and one-on-one sessions dealing with anxiety, bereave-ment, depression, abuse and trauma.
Other programmes offered focus on:
. Knowing one’s rights and responsibilities, based on the Labour Relations Act and Employment of Educators’ Act, for all newly-appointed educators as part of their induction, and also for serving educators.
. Programmes on alternatives to corporal punishment.
. Psycho-social programmes such as the Positive Behaviour programme.
. Anti-bullying/anti-violence programmes.
. Restorative discipline
. Caring programmes for teachers.
Mochologi expressed her gratitude to schools and the WCED for their cooperation during police searches at schools. “The police will continue to fight crime in all respects. Those who are found to be selling drugs to schoolchildren will face the full might of the law.”
She reported that 89 dangerous weapons were also confiscated during stop-and-search operations and vehicle check points (VCPs) executed by the police in “problematic hot spots” such as Zwelihle, Grabouw, Villiersdorp and Gansbaai.
