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Four classrooms at Itumeleng Primary school in Letlhabile near Brits were gutted by fire in the evening of Monday, 5 September 2016.

This was witnessed by community members who rushed to inform a General Assistant of the school who stays in the neighbourhood.

Fire fighters were summoned immediately to extinguish the fire and SAPS were called together with forensic unit to conduct an investigation.  Parents and educators were also at the scene to offer assistance.

Although the cause of fire is not yet known, the damage is recorded to have affected roofing in Grade 6A & 6B as well as Grade 7A &7B classrooms, walls, cupboards, pin boards, chalkboards, learner’s books, textbooks, educator’s files and records.

Teaching and learning is continuing at the school and the social development officials were called to counsel both learners and educators.

MEC Jonas Lehari is stunned by this incident and wishes the police department to expedite investigating the cause of fire.

“This incident is really perturbing. We truly wish a report will be availed soon to get to the bottom of this. I also want to convey my sincerest gratitude to the community members who took to inform and assist in quenching the fire. This is the kind of community and parent involvement we wish to see in all neighbourhoods. They truly displayed a sense of ownership to their schools”, Lehari echoed.

To ease overcrowding on the non-affected classrooms, the storeroom, computer laboratory and school hall are utilised for teaching and learning.

Issued by North West Education and Sports Development