The North West Department of Education is devastated by a fire incident at Mamusa Primary School in Ipelegeng Township near Sweizer – Reneke, which gutted a mobile classroom down on Sunday afternoon, 20 March 2022.

It is alleged that the community residing nearby the school saw the mobile classroom which caught fire within the school premises. At once, they called the fire department and continued to try extinguish the fire.

The fire has destroyed the mobile classroom, desks and chairs, textbooks and work books. The damages are estimated at almost R180 000.

The cause of fire is being investigated.

The MEC for Education, Mmaphefo Matsemela strongly condemned the burning of the mobile classroom.

“This is extremely disappointing that, on the same day to celebrate the Human Right’s Day as a country. We experience a violation of the same rights to education. Many died for these rights enshrined by the constitution. As a department we are mandated to protect the right to education for all learners by providing them with resources. We wish the law to take its own full cause against those behind this incident.

“The Department keeps on being drawn backwards by those opposed to progress in our education system. Learners have lost a lot of teaching time due to lockdown and while we try to reverse the losses some people continue to sabotage the good efforts of the Department”, said MEC Matsemela.

The department indicated that there was one mobile classroom at the school which has been used as a store room and during the reopening of schools it will be used as a replacement.

A case of arson has been opened with the local police.

 

For more info please contact:

Elias Malindi
NW Edit spokesperson
072 892 8399/072 115 4855