By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley-In a joint operation various policing units namely, the Provincial Crime Prevention Unit, the Tactical Response Team Public Order Policing unit, Crime Intelligence unit, Galeshewe SAPS, Kagisho SAPS and NC SAPS Polmusca members raided nine high schools in the Galeshewe area.
The surprise operations were conducted on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning at the request of school principals and parents of scholars from some of these schools.
“Approximately 10 000 scholars as well as suspicious looking persons lingering outside the school premises were searched. Classrooms, toilets and storerooms on the school premises were searched and the police confiscated several knives, pangas, broken mirrors and other dangerous weapons” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. Kock said the scholars were allegedly found in possession of dangerous weapons. “Those who were found in possession of Dangerous weapons were referred to the school principals to be dealt with internally and according to the disciplinary processes of the Education Department” Kock outlines.
Police also followed up on information of hot-spot areas surrounding the schools where drugs are allegedly being sold.
Police confiscate 31 fingers of dagga allegedly buried in a hole outside one of the mentioned houses. The dagga has a street value of R3000, 00” police said.
No arrests were made.
“The operation forms part of Safer Schools Project and the No Knife Campaign and similar operations will be conducted in on-going basis. Police also intensified patrols in and around schools to ensure that all scholars and the community are safe and secure” Kock said.
Police said violence and crime do not only occur in the school premises as some of the worst causes of violence for youth lie outside of school, in the family, the neighbourhood and in broader society.
“A number of youth–oriented prevention strategies have shown that crime prevention programmes in schools both help to turn youth away from a life of crime and help to prevent younger children from choosing a path of crime” said police.
In other words, for younger children (or those not yet involved in crime) crime prevention programmes stop them from becoming involved Kock concludes.-TDN
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