By Botho Molosankwe
Substance abuse among Alexandra pupils is rampant, despite more than 120 of them having been sent for rehabilitation.
On Wednesday, police pounced on Realogile and Eastbank high schools in the township north of Johannesburg and arrested three pupils found in possession of dagga.
The raid was part of the social crime prevention campaign involving the South African Police Services and Joburg metro police, who used sniffer dogs in the operation.
Superintendent Patrick Jaca said there had been complaints that there was a suspicion of drug trafficking at the schools.
Two pupils aged 16 and 17 were found hiding in the toilets in possession of dagga at Realogile, which is situated next to Alexandra police station. The third, a 16-year-old, was arrested at Eastbank.
It was discovered that the two youths arrested at Realogile were from two different schools in the area and had climbed over the wall to get into the schoolyard.
Principal Thabo Borchardt of Realogile said drugs were a serious problem at his school.
He said that last year more than 120 pupils were sent to a rehabilitation centre after it was discovered that they took drugs, mainly dagga, on the school premises.
Some pupils at the school said both boys and girls smoked dagga in the school toilets openly and "did not care".
They said teachers also knew this, but because the pupils were usually high and violent when intoxicated, they never confronted them.
"The teachers never say anything because they are afraid of them," one pupil said.
Borchardt said: "We really welcome these of raids, but our problem is that thugs and other bad elements have easy access to the school.
"We have been asking the department of education to increase the height of the wall, but we are told there is no money."
Borchardt said a pupil was murdered three years ago when thugs jumped over the wall, took him with them and killed him.
At Eastbank High School there was a commotion as police officers went from class to class, opening school bags and searching them.
The pupils jeered and screamed during the raid.
A Grade 8 pupil was arrested after trying to throw 10g of dagga over the school fence when he saw the police.
A teacher at the school, Nthedi Potsane, said they were aware that some learners smoked dagga at school but had never been successful in catching anyone.
"These raids should happen on a monthly basis so that the schools and the township can be rid of drugs."
Sweets that contain alcohol were also seized during the raid. They were found in the possession of a pupil who was selling them at the school.
A local councillor, Oratile Makgoba, who was also present during the raid, said he appreciated that the police were doing something about crime.
Makgoba said he was concerned to hear that the drug problem was not confined to high schools. He had received complaints from one primary school teacher who also had a problem with substance abuse at his school.
"I find it difficult to comprehend that primary school children could be using drugs. As these are just allegations, we are trying to investigate and see how true they are."
A meeting involving parents, teachers, councillors, the police and other stakeholders has been arranged for Wednesday, when the problem will be discussed.