The Free State Department of Education is yet to quantify the cost of damage due to fires at two schools in Qwaqwa and Bloemfontein.
A fire destroyed four classrooms at the Mphatlalatsane Combined School in Qwaqwa on Saturday (04/06) and the Dr Block School’s hostel in Heidedal on Sunday (05/06).
The cause of the fires at both schools is being investigated.
Fire reportedly destroyed four classrooms at Mphatlalatsane, causing disarray to learning and teaching.
The fire that erupted at Dr Block School burnt down the girls’ hostel.
Tate Makgoe, MEC for Education, has expressed disgust about the incidents in a statement and has called upon the public to assist with possible information regarding the fire at Mphatlalatsane.
“There is prima facie suspicion that this is arson at the Mphatlalatsane Combined School. Therefore we are calling on community members to assist law enforcement agencies in the investigation to apprehend arsonists,” said Makgoe.
He said according to information received, at the time the fire occurred there was no power supply in the location where the school is situated.
“This act of burning and destroying school property is literally hampering efforts to address infrastructure challenges at our schools,” said Makgoe.
This has affected more than 1 000 learners at the school in Qwaqwa. Makgoe said this has resulted in unnecessary overcrowding in classrooms.
“This forces the school to go back to a rotational model to avoid overcrowding.”
The fire at the Dr Block School’s hostel has affected 59 learners and some staff members.
This is the second fire at the hostel following the first in January 2019 that affected 135 learners.
Makgoe had then blamed a lack of monitoring and evaluation of safety measures at schools to prevent the reoccurrence of fire incidents.
