A pair of handcuffs confiscated from pupils at a Cape Flats school was apparently used for kinky sex.
Moments before Lentegeur police officers descended on Woodlands High School in Mitchells Plain for a search and seizure operation on Thursday, a fight between two girls broke out.
The scuffle was broken up by a teacher, while a group of girls could also be seen smoking cigarettes a few metres away until the bell for first break rang just after 10.30am.
A few minutes later, Education MEC Debbie Schäfer and Community Safety MEC Alan Winde joined cops for the safety operation.
EDUCATION: MEC Debbie Shafer at Woodlands High school. Photo: JACK LESTRADE
Cops confiscated contraband, including tik lollies, scissors and knives, screwdrivers, several bankies of dagga and even a pair of handcuffs.
According to a staff member at the school, the handcuffs are nothing new, saying: “The kids use it to experiment sexually.”
In a Grade 8 classroom, one small, shy meisie raised her hand.
“Ek het ’n mes gebring, maar ek het dit vir Antie Sharon (safety staff) gegee. Dit was vir my mango, meneer,” the teen said.
HOU DOP: Debbie Schafer watches search initiative. Photo: JACK LESTRADE
Principal Sandra Smith welcomed the search and says the teachers sometimes fear for their lives. “The children are difficult and deliberately provoke teachers,” the palie says.
“Less than 1% of our kids go on to formal training after finishing matric, so we want to move towards becoming a school of skills.”
According to the Safe Schools Directorate, in 2017 there were 177 instances where drugs were found on learners. In 2018, this increased to 194.
SAFE: Bags searched at Woodlands High. Photo: JACK LESTRADE
In 2017, a total of 56 incidents of learners with weapons on school premises were reported.
In 2018, this number increased to 78.
Schäfer expressed concern at the incidents of gang violence at school.
“This is of grave concern to me and it is for this reason that the WCED works with SAPS to conduct random search and seizure operations at schools across the province” said Schäfer.
INITIATIVE: Palie Sandra Smith. Photo: JACK LESTRADE
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, confirmed the search was part of a Safer School initiative.
“A 16-year-old was referred to the school governing body after he was found in possession of dagga. No one has been arrested,” Rwexana said.