To coincide with Human Rights Day, which was celebrated on Thursday, 21 March, learners of the Dr Viljoen Combined School in Willows marched to create awareness of illicit drugs being sold in the area of the school.
According to the acting deputy principal and head of discipline at the high school, Jacques Louw, four cannabis dispensaries were recently opened in King Edward Road.
This is in addition to the dispensaries, bars, and bottle stores already in the streets around the school.
“During breaks, we have marshals on the school grounds making sure that the children are safe,” he says.
Unfortunately, many learners walk to and from school through the streets and it is all too easy for them to get hold of unlawful items.
Last year on Spring Day, vendors went as far as to sell muffins and cookies laced with cannabis to children through the fence.
“We called the police who came and confiscated the illicit drugs and other items. We do get wonderful support from the police, but we also need them to be more involved and more visible before and after school when the children are on their way through the neighbourhood,” said Louw.
On Wednesday, 20 March, the learners marched to the intersection of Victoria Road and Parfitt Avenue, where they met up with representatives of the Parkweg Police Station.
“We do have teachers on the streets in the morning before school, but we cannot go further down the streets, where drugs are easily available to the learners.
“That is where we need the visibility of the police, especially in Ella Street and King Edward Road.
“Many parents work until 16:00 daily and can only fetch their children then. We keep the children on the school grounds as much as possible, but we also do not have enough staff.”
Louw says the school community is also concerned about the general safety of learners while walking to school.
“There have been several incidences where learners were robbed after school, when cell phones and personal items were taken.
“We asked the police in a memorandum for safer streets, for more visibility, better access to resources for the police officers responsible for the school, as well as regular drug raids at the school to deter learners from using drugs.”
Louw says that this was not a political march, but an action to thank the police for their constant support and willingness to serve the community.
