Members of the Athlone Neighbourhood Watch say they’ve nabbed a mert selling drugs to children outside their school.
Residents in Silvertown now say they are gatvol of drug lords targeting their children at Athlone High and want the school and police to take action.
According to a member of the neighbourhood watch, they did offer to assist with search and seizure at the school, “but the principal has refused our help”.
He said the suspect was handed to police, but cops could not confirm the arrest on Wednesday.
Residents say brazen skollies stand outside school selling drugs to children, while skelms hide in the trees before pouncing on passers-by to rob them.
SEIZED: Drugs being sold at school
A former pupil at the high school says the situation has gotten out of control.
“The drug lords pull up in their fancy cars and drive around, selling their stuff to learners through the fence, or making a delivery to the learners to sell inside the school,” the man says.
“I am a concerned member of this community and I fear for the children’s lives. This cannot be allowed to continue.”
He says laaities also drink liquor on the school grounds, and openly smoke entjies while
standing at the gates “while the caretakers just look on”.
“I approached the principal. We spoke about what is happening and he had a negative attitude towards me. I reminded him we both attended Athlone High and it was never like this.”
Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson in Athlone, Aziza Kannemeyer says drugs being sold at Athlone High School is not a new thing and the kids are even being recruited to go and sell in their own communities.
‘PEDDLER’ VAS: An alleged dealer was ‘arrested’ for selling drugs to Athlone High laaities
“People sell openly to learners through the school fence. This has become the trend at lots of schools. It is also alleged that some learners actually sells drugs for the dealers in their communities as well,” Kannemeyer said.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Millicent Merton says the Schools Act regulates the circumstances and conditions under which random search and seizure and drug testing in schools may be conducted and dealt with.
However, she adds: “The schools and institutions are also encouraged, as far as possible, to involve outside organisations specialising in drug education and intervention and other associated programmes to augment the education provided by the school-based educators.”
Pupils and parents dealing with substance abuse can call the WCED hotline on 0800 45 46 47 for counselling and support.