Crime Line for pupils launched

GAUTENG MEC for education Barbara Creecy has called on all pupils in the province to be the ears and eyes of the police.

Creecy was addressing pupils at Mosupatsela Secondary School in Kagiso on the West Rand during the launch of the Young Crime Liners yesterday. Earlier this month, three pupils from the school were arrested after they were found in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

“For the past four years, we as the department have been trying to implement strategies to make schools in the province safer. We care about your safety and that of your educators, ” Creecy said.

She asked pupils to report criminal activities at school.

“Time to time we conduct search and seizure operations in various schools. So far the department of social development has appointed 25 social workers to deal with problems faced by our learners at schools and at home.

“Police cannot be everywhere any time. You must be their ears and eyes. You must become active partners against crime in our schools.”

Creecy said weapons, drugs, alcohol, assaults and sexual abuse are crimes and do not belong in schools.

“We want to root them out, please utilise the Crime Line to report any offence.”

Chairman of Crime Line, Yusuf Abramjee, said since June 1, they have arrested more than 1 500 drug dealers on the West Rand.

“We want law and order in our schools. It is wrong for a child to attack a teacher and wrong for a teacher to attack a child, and wrong for learners who are stabbing each other.”

He promised that the initiative would be spread across the country to spread the message against crime in schools.