The Hawks raided the home, in Rayton, east of Pretoria, of a university chemistry department employee on Saturday, suspecting that he ran a drugs factory in the house.

On their arrival, they found the 15-year-old mixing chemicals.

The girl reportedly told the police that she was busy with a school project.

Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela said the father - who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of his daughter, a minor - was cooperative during his arrest.

The police said they confiscated methaqualone (mandrax) with a street value of R20-million at the property. The man was with his wife and two children when the Hawks arrested him at the house.

The technician allegedly bought large quantities of chemicals, with which to make drugs, in the name of the university's chemistry department.

Polela said the Hawks were in possession of receipts that proved this allegation.

The technician appeared in the Cullinan Magistrate's Court on charges of drug possession, manufacturing drugs and dealing in drugs.

He was remanded in custody and the case was postponed to July 30 for a bail application.

The technician's daughter was not arrested.

The university said it was not aware of the laboratory assistant's alleged activities.

University spokesman Nicolize Mulder said yesterday: "The university has, with great shock and dismay, learned of the allegations against its member of staff. We can confirm that he is a senior technical assistant in the department of chemistry."

She said the "matter will be investigated and immediate disciplinary steps will be taken".

The university undertook to cooperate with the police investigation.

Polela could not confirm whether any of the drugs [allegedly manufactured by the man] had been distributed on the university campus.

He said the man had confessed that the drugs were sold to an unidentified client.

The Rayton property appeared to be deserted when The Times was there yesterday.

A lot of empty containers, as well as big cooking pots, were stacked outside, near a carport.