More Gauteng schools to face SAPS raids: Maile

Gauteng Education MEC, Lebogang Maile, says the provincial government and the South African Police Service (SAPS) will expand their joint search and seizure operation to more schools across the province.

Maile made the remarks during an operation at Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong, as authorities step up efforts to tackle crime, substance abuse and gangsterism plaguing several schools.

Police say several serious crimes, including assault and murder, have been reported at the school. Knives, marijuana and vapes were also confiscated during today’s operation.

Maile has also warned that the government will intensify efforts to weed out ill-disciplined students and teachers who are absent from their duties.

“They come to school to terrorise other learners, to terrorise educators. There’s been a complaint just last week on social media about this school, about bullying, and someone asked that we must intervene. And we did not respond on social media, but we knew because even in a community meeting we were told that this is one of the most notorious schools.

“In fact, there’s been murder, for instance, in this school early this year. And that’s how things have gotten out of control. We’ve been told about five notorious educators who don’t come to school, who don’t teach, who go to taverns during school hours.”

He says some learners have allegedly threatened teachers with criminals and zama-zamas.

“We’ve got kids here who are against us. Some of them,  I’ve just checked their books, there is nothing. They are not coming to school.

“They are not learners. They come to school, some of them, just to eat the food which is meant for the learners  , and they are not the learners. They come to school to terrorise other learners, to terrorise educators.”

🚔 WORKING TOGETHER FOR SAFER SCHOOLS

Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, @LebogangMaile1, joined @SAPoliceService and other law enforcement partners at Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong for today’s SAPS-led School Search and Seizure Operation to… pic.twitter.com/hdIjLFpG5q

— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) August 4, 2026

The SAPS-led school search and seizure operation has also moved to Thetha Secondary School in Orange Farm.

🚨 HAPPENING NOW | SAPS-LED SCHOOL SEARCH AND SEIZURE OPERATION MOVES TO ORANGE FARM

Today’s @SAPoliceService-led School Search and Seizure Operation has moved to Thetha Secondary School in Orange Farm, where Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation,… pic.twitter.com/CDcmTSRmCU

— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) August 4, 2026