GAUTENG MEC for education Barbara Creecy has joined forces with the Blue Bulls rugby union to encourage youngsters to stay away from drugs.

This will coincide with a development programme launched by the Bulls to introduce pupils from the Tshwane district of the Gauteng education department to rugby. The Bulls will conduct touch-rugby and tag-rugby clinics at township and village schools.

The programme started at Hammanskraal Sports Complex on Monday, where pupils signed public pledges to stay drug-free throughout their schooling years.

The programme involves pupils in after-school activities that will focus their energies on sport, music, dance, indigenous games and board games.

Education authorities are working closely with law-enforcement agencies to flush out drugs and weapons such as knives and guns from schools.

Creecy has warned pupils in the province that if they are caught with drugs they will be dealt with by the police, who do regular body searches at schools. Some pupils in the region have dropped out of school because of their addiction to nyaope, a deadly concoction of low-grade heroin, dagga and rat poison.

Others are accused of bringing liquor to school or being drunk during school hours.

Creecy has appealed to parents and community members to assist them in flushing out drugs, liquor and other illegal items from learning institutions.