JOHANNESBURG - "We will not tolerate anarchy."
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile says a surprise raid at the notorious Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong has painted a troubling picture of a learning environment that has spiralled into disorder.
Maile, accompanied by law enforcement officials, conducted a search-and-seizure operation at the school on Tuesday morning.
Police confiscated knives, scissors, vapes, a fork and drugs from pupils during the operation.
According to police, 10 serious cases involving pupils at the school have been reported since January.
In March, a 16-year-old Grade 9 learner was fatally stabbed by another pupil during a break.
After inspecting pupils' exercise books, Maile said it had become apparent that many learners were not attending classes regularly.
He alleged that some pupils were coming to school only to access the school feeding scheme and intimidate fellow learners and educators.
"They come to school, some of them, just to eat the food. They come to school to terrorise other learners and educators," Maile said.
Maile said concerns about bullying at the school had surfaced on social media a week earlier, with community members calling for urgent intervention.
He said the fatal stabbing in March underscored how serious the situation had become.
"At the centre is ill-discipline. There are kids who have been suspended, and they are so brazen and disrespectful that some of them even tear the suspension letters that the teachers give them.
What kind of kids are those? We can't have such in our schools. We can't have anarchy," Maile said.
"There is a learner who comes here just to eat the food. When I look at his books, there is nothing because he is not attending class. We can't have kids who are not attending class remaining on the school premises. Appropriate action must be taken."
Maile said what was equally concerning was that the alleged problems extended beyond pupils' behaviour.
"We have been told about five notorious educators who don't come to school, they don't teach and go to taverns during school hours."
The MEC said the educators would face disciplinary action in line with labour regulations if the allegations were substantiated.
Ironically, Maile said the same educators had already been the subject of a formal petition submitted by their own colleagues.
As part of efforts to restore order, Maile said he had instructed the district director to meet with all educators to outline expectations. An acting principal will also be appointed to enforce discipline.
"We want to make sure that in the coming weeks there is order here," Maile said.