Question no: 1009
Dr JC Kloppers-Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) Whether any drug raids have been conducted on schools in any province since 1 January 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if so, (a) which schools were raided in each province and (b) what was the outcome of the raid in each case;
(2) Whether any policies are in place to assist learners to cope with the psychological consequences of these raids; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the policies?
Reply:
(1) (a) Information on drug raids in schools is maintained at provincial level. A request has been made to provinces to avail information as requested. Provincial reports received thus far are outlined in table one below, indicating a total of 172 schools in two provinces Eastern Cape (four schools) and Western Cape (168 schools). School level data is currently only available for the Eastern Cape (see table one).
(b) The outcome of the raids was as follows: Cannabis was found during the raids in the Eastern Cape schools. No drugs or substances were found in the Western Cape schools.
Table one: Random search and seizure per province, January to September 2009
Province: Eastern Cape
Number of schools: four schools
* Green Point Senior Secondary
* Kei Road Comprehensive School
* Kuyasa Senior Secondary School
* Hector Peterson High School.
Outcome: Cannabis was found in all four schools
Assistance provided to learners: Counselling received from South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) and a social worker
Province: Western Cape
Number of schools: 168 high risk schools
Outcome: No drugs substances were found
Assistance provided to learners: safe schools call centre offers counselling and debriefing
School level data for Western Cape (WC)
It is important to note that in accordance with the Education Law Amendment Act of 2007, random search and seizure procedures are only undertaken when fair and reasonable suspicion has been established that substances are being used on the school premises. In this regard, searches are conducted after taking into account all relevant factors, including:
(i) The best interest of the learner in question or of any learner at the school
(ii) The safety and health of the learner/s in question or of any learner at the school
(iii) Reasonable evidence of illegal activity
(iv) All relevant evidence received.
The guidelines for the management and prevention of drug use/abuse by learners in all public schools and Further Education and Training (FET) institutions have been designed to balance the privacy and psychological integrity of the child against the need to respond both reasonably and proportionally to suspected illegal activity. In this regard, random search and seizure procedures are conducted in a manner that does not traumatise learners. The department also works in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) and non-governmental organisation (NGOs) such as SANCA and Family and Marriage Association of South Africa (FAMSA), in educating learners, educators and parents on the dangers of drug and substance use; and providing a supportive environment to enable those learners found using drugs to access treatment, care and support. At all times parental involvement is actively sought and encouraged
Issued by: Department of Basic Education
28 August 2009
