Some of the anti-crime initiatives at the Vuyiswa Mtolo High School in KwaMashu which is aimed at reducing incidents of violence in schools in the Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (PINK) area.
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Knives, drugs, an air gun pellet and even a "love potion" are among the alarming items discovered in learners’ school bags during anti-crime searches at schools north of Durban.
Andile Jali, founder of the eThekwini Neighbourhood Watch, said the organisation has visited more than 10 schools since the start of the 2026 academic year in the townships of Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu; collectively known as the PINK area.
Some of the schools searched include Vuyiswa Mtolo High School, Mtapo High School, Machobeni High School and Delview High School.
Jali said searches are conducted in coordination with school management teams and take place before morning assembly. Female learners are searched by members of a women's organisation to ensure appropriate procedures are followed.
Among the items confiscated were various drugs, knives and other sharp objects. An air gun pellet was found in a learner’s bag at Mzuvele High School in KwaMashu.
"When we asked the learner what he was doing with a pellet in his school bag, he said it got there by mistake," Jali said.
In another case, a learner was found carrying a "love potion". Jali also noted that some learners refuse to be searched.
The campaign has uncovered more serious concerns. At one school, a learner allegedly made death threats against a teacher, forcing the educator to apply for a protection order. Although the learner was expelled, Jali claimed a political party intervened and instructed the school to reinstate the pupil, arguing that expulsion was not permitted.
"This surprised us. How can anyone advocate for a learner who is threatening to kill a teacher, to the point where the teacher had to seek a protection order?" Jali asked.
He added that the teacher now lives in fear.
At Delview High in Phoenix, a learner was found carrying a knife for protection after allegedly being threatened by another learner who said he would bring a gang to "teach him a lesson".
Jali believes the school searches will help curb violence and gangsterism, which continue to plague many Durban townships.
"If we take our fight against crime to schools, the results will show in the communities," he said.
While the campaign currently focuses on the PINK area, Jali said there are plans to expand the initiative to other parts of Durban.