MEC MAILE JOINS SAPS-LED UNANNOUNCED SEARCH AND SEIZURE OPERATION AT ALEXANDRA HIGH SCHOOLS

MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, joined a South African Police Service (SAPS)-led unannounced search and seizure operation at three high schools in Alexandra as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen school safety and combat substance abuse, dangerous weapons and other prohibited items in Gauteng schools.

Alexandra has five high schools. Wednesday’s operation targeted East Bank High School, Realogile High School and Alexandra High School, where searches resulted in the seizure of 109 or more items.

The operation formed part of routine and random searches for prohibited items in line with school codes of conduct and the Safety in Schools Policy.

At East Bank High School, approximately 40 items were seized. These included eight disposable vape devices; cigarettes; three hand-rolled cigarettes suspected to be dagga joints; a sealed box of cigarettes; three matchboxes; two grinders; eight small plastic sachets containing a green leafy substance suspected to be dagga; three pairs of scissors; two folding knives or multi-tools; four glass shards and other miscellaneous items.

At Realogile High School, more than 41 items were seized. These included seven disposable vape devices, six glass or mirror shards, three pairs of scissors, two matchboxes and other miscellaneous items. More than 20 muffins or cupcakes were also recovered and will be inspected to establish whether they contain any prohibited substances. At this stage, no determination has been made regarding the contents of the baked goods.

At Alexandra High School, 28 items were seized, including five disposable vape devices; six small plastic sachets containing a green leafy substance suspected to be dagga; four matchboxes; two large pieces of broken glass; a folding multi-tool containing a knife and pliers; a spanner or wrench; and an improvised metal tool, among other items.

Overall, the SAPS-led operation resulted in the seizure of 14 sachets containing substances suspected to be dagga and three suspected dagga joints, as well as knives, tools capable of being used as weapons, glass shards, scissors, vapes, cigarettes, matchboxes and grinders.

Disposable vapes, glass shards, matchboxes and scissors were among the most commonly recovered prohibited items.

MEC Maile expressed serious concern about the nature of items being brought onto school premises, particularly suspected drugs and objects capable of causing serious injury.

“The discovery of suspected drugs, knives, broken glass, scissors and other potentially dangerous objects in our schools is deeply concerning. These items have absolutely no place in an environment intended for teaching and learning,” MEC Maile said.

“These unannounced operations are necessary to protect learners and educators and ensure that our schools remain safe. We will continue supporting SAPS and other law enforcement agencies in conducting random searches because learners must understand that bringing drugs, weapons and other prohibited items onto school premises will have consequences,” MEC Maile added.

The MEC emphasised that school safety cannot be the responsibility of government, educators and law enforcement agencies alone, calling on parents and communities to become active participants in protecting schools.

“We urge parents to regularly check what their children are carrying to school. Finding suspected drugs, knives and other dangerous items in learners’ possession should concern every parent and every member of society. Schools are a microcosm of society, and keeping them safe requires all of us to play our part,” MEC Maile said.

Where seized substances are suspected to be illegal drugs, the appropriate processes will be followed to establish their contents. Learners found in possession of prohibited items will also be dealt with in accordance with relevant school disciplinary processes, while matters involving suspected criminal conduct will be handled by SAPS.

The Department will continue supporting SAPS-led unannounced search and seizure operations across Gauteng schools as part of broader interventions aimed at tackling substance abuse, violence, gangsterism and the possession of dangerous weapons.

“Our schools are sacred spaces for education. We cannot allow drugs, weapons, violence or criminal behaviour to rob learners of their constitutional right to education. We will continue working with SAPS, parents, School Governing Bodies and communities to make our schools safer,” MEC Maile said.