An education department team and police were yesterday surprised when they found no drugs on pupils and "only" two knives at Swayimane High School, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The community surrounding the school has repeatedly blamed drugs for crime in the area since the rape of two grandmothers, aged 94 and 82, last year. Grannies told officials last year that they were afraid to live in their village because the young people were "always high".
During yesterday's swoop, police and a sniffer dog found two rusty knives on Grade 10 and Grade 11 pupils. Police had stern words for the schoolboys before recording their names. They face arrest if caught in possession of a dangerous weapon again.
"I am disappointed that we found two knives but I am happy that we did not find drugs. This is a place of learning . a place were futures are moulded," Midlands police spokesman Colonel Henry Budhram told pupils at a special assembly after the raid.
Education department spokesman Muzi Mahlambi said: "Education should be the only weapon young people are armed with for a better future".
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