JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has firmly defended the province’s aggressive school safety crackdown, revealing plans to introduce breathalysers in classrooms to combat substance abuse. The announcement follows a series of unannounced police raids that uncovered weapons and illegal contraband, prompting the department to prioritize secure learning environments over potential pushback from human rights advocates.
The intensified security operations, which recently targeted institutions such as East Bank and Alexandra High schools, resulted in the confiscation of over 109 prohibited items. According to Maile, the seized contraband included folding knives, glass shards, live ammunition, and illegal substances (identified as DHA), highlighting the urgent need to address gang activity and violence bleeding into educational spaces.
Addressing criticism that the department is criminalizing pupils and treating deep-rooted societal issues purely as a police matter, Maile clarified that many of the offenders are over-aged. He noted that learners aged 18 and older are legally adults committing crimes in an environment where they no longer belong. For younger students, disciplinary committees will evaluate cases individually rather than applying a blanket approach, though suspensions and expulsions remain firmly on the table.
The legality of these operations is grounded in Section 8A of the Schools Act, which governs random search and seizure procedures in educational institutions. Maile emphasized that schools are government property, and because the Department of Education lacks law enforcement authority, partnering with the South African Police Service (SAPS) is both necessary and lawful to protect all citizens on campus.
When questioned about the long-term impact of criminal records on a young person’s future employment or education prospects, Maile argued that the strong deterrent message of these unannounced raids is essential. He stressed that the majority of well-behaved learners actively support these efforts, often pointing out troublemakers to authorities. He referenced recent visits to schools in Westbury and Orange Farm, where learner cooperation and direct parental involvement helped de-escalate situations without the need for police force.
Funding these security and operational measures remains a complex challenge. Maile outlined the stark financial realities facing the Gauteng Department of Education, which operates on a R71 billion provincial allocation. Of this total, R54 billion is immediately absorbed by the salaries of approximately 100,000 staff members. Additional mandatory expenditures include R1.7 billion for scholar transport, R1.3 billion for school nutrition, between R2 billion and R3 billion for learner-teacher support materials, and R2 billion for water and electricity.
Despite these massive expenditures, the funding falls short of the province’s infrastructural needs. Maile highlighted a severe backlog, noting that Gauteng needs to construct approximately 200 new schools at an estimated cost of R35 billion, all while continuing to provide daily meals to 1.7 million learners.
The crackdown is also driven by a rising trend of educators being attacked and traumatized, which forces the department to cover the costs of substitute teachers while the affected staff seek institutional support. Beyond restoring immediate security, Maile confirmed that the department is implementing new efficiency strategies—referenced internally as a “triple piece” process—to maximize results. This includes closely monitoring internal midyear assessments to predict and boost matric performance, with targeted interventions aimed at improving outcomes in critical subjects like mathematics, science, and accounting.
Ultimately, Maile maintained that the government cannot afford to be complicit by remaining passive. Ensuring that schools function as safe havens is a non-negotiable prerequisite for preventing the complete collapse of teaching and learning in the province.
