Benoni, Ekurhuleni – A routine school safety operation turned into a shocking discovery when the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) K9 Unit uncovered more than 200 vaping devices and several other illicit or dangerous items at Belvedere School in Benoni on Tuesday, 9 September 2025.
The search formed part of an ongoing EMPD initiative to maintain discipline and ensure that local schools remain safe, weapon-free zones. Officers carried out body searches on learners, checked their school bags, and deployed a trained sniffer dog to detect any hidden contraband. The results of the search, however, were far beyond what most expected.
Items Seized
Authorities confiscated a total of 221 vapes, a staggering number that highlights the growing concern around vaping among school children. In addition to the vapes, the police recovered:
3 toy guns
10 knives
7 ziplock bags of cannabis (dagga)
3 knuckle busters
5 matchboxes
9 lighters
The wide range of items shocked many in the community, raising urgent questions about how such materials make their way into schools and what this says about broader safety and social challenges facing young learners.
EMPD’s Response
According to an EMPD spokesperson, the operation was not a one-off event but part of a broader strategy to tackle crime and harmful activities in Ekurhuleni schools.
“The safety of learners is our top priority,” the spokesperson said. “Our officers will continue conducting random searches across the City of Ekurhuleni. These operations are vital in ensuring that learners are protected from harmful substances, weapons, and activities that threaten their wellbeing.”
The EMPD also emphasised that these interventions are preventive in nature. The presence of officers and detection dogs serves both to root out dangerous items and to deter learners from bringing such items onto school grounds in the first place.
Growing Concern About Vaping Among Learners
The discovery of over 200 vapes is a cause for alarm among educators, parents, and health professionals. While many young people view vaping as a harmless habit, research increasingly shows its potential risks, particularly for adolescents whose bodies and brains are still developing. The easy availability of vapes, often marketed in attractive flavours and designs, has made them popular among teenagers.
Community leaders have called for stricter regulations on the sale of vaping products to minors, as well as education campaigns in schools to raise awareness about the dangers of nicotine addiction and other health risks linked to vaping.
Broader School Safety Efforts
Belvedere School is not the only institution targeted by EMPD. Similar operations have been conducted across the Ekurhuleni region, with police promising that more schools will be visited in the coming months. The goal is to reassure parents, protect learners, and create an environment that prioritises education over crime and harmful influences.
For now, the discovery at Belvedere School serves as a wake-up call, underscoring the urgent need for continued vigilance, collaboration between authorities and schools, and stronger community involvement to safeguard learners’ futures.
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