All learners appeared in a disciplinary hearing on Thursday before the School Governing Body, with their parents present. The Free State Department of Education’s spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, told OFM News that he could not provide information on the outcome of the hearing, as the most important thing at the moment is to let the implicated learners first write their exams.

The use of drugs at schools seems to be on the rise. Videos showing young Pretoria school boys in a drug-induced state went viral on social media recently. The boys allegedly smoked a drug called ‘Herbal blend’ and suffered psychotic attacks afterwards. (Puff, Blazing, and Crazy Coconut are also common names). Reports suggest that the drug is a plant, coated with a synthetic mixture. The mixture can contain unknown substances that could be harmful or fatal.

TimesLive reported fourteen young adults and scholars were admitted to hospital after they smoked this unknown "drug", also called Puff‚ Blazing and Crazy Coconut.

"It is alleged that they buy these products over the counter at tobacco shops‚ tuck shops and adult shops‚ then mix it with cigarette tobacco or roll their own smokes‚" said police spokesperson Captain Augustina Selepe.

The substances had been mainly found in Pretoria West‚ Pretoria Gardens‚ Daspoort and Hercules.

The parent of one these boys, who wants to remain anonymous, spoke to OFM News about the importance of monitoring your children’s behaviour in order to look out for any warning signs that might indicate drug use. She also said that parents should try to be vigilant of what their children consume as the drug that was given to her son was packaged like candy. This made it hard to detect.

“My son is fine. He was discharged the same day and he is doing very well now. No parent wants to see their child in the hospital and have a video of them trending on social media. You must educate your children about the dangers of drugs. Discourage your children from using them,” she said. She told Xander Loubser of Best Care Ambulance Services that the videos that went viral on social media should serve as a warning to others.

Meanwhile, Navalsig High School in Bloemfontein has taken some measures to ensure that its learners are not exposed to drugs and the peddlers who might target them. This comes after a video surfaced of the school’s learners smoking what appears to be dagga.

On this same day, a father from Pretoria took his cell phone to his son's room as his mom wanted to talk to him. He filmed his disturbing discovery and OFM News cut the end where the boys almost suffocated in their vomit and the paramedics arrived to assist. 

OFM News