ADMINISTRATION BLOCK BURNT TO ASHES AT MACHAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL

The North West Education department is saddened by a burnt down administration block at Machama Primary School, at Manamakgoteng Village near Moruleng on Monday, 11 May 2020.

The administration block which constituted of ten offices was burnt down including the furniture inside. The items destroyed by the fire were as follows: Term 2 and 3 workbooks burnt, textbooks for all subjects burnt, brand new duplo, 2 colour printers, photocopying machine, microwave, electricity stove, urn, two plates stove, dinner plates, purifying machine, 4 kettles, pressure pump, garden equipments, athletic equipments, sports attire for all codes donated by Lottery, piano and its chair, science equipments and 2 refrigerators.

The burnt down administration block at Machama Primary school, follows a series of burglary and vandalism incidents in schools across the province that have been reported to the department during the lockdown. This is a third incident to happen at the school still during the lockdown. The electricity cables and CCTV cameras were stolen in two different occasions.

The North West Education MEC, Mmaphefo Matsemela was dismayed by the incident and pleaded for the speedy arrests of the culprits.

“As a department we are extremely disappointed and disgusted by the insensitive incident of burning the administration block of the school. Since the lockdown has started our department has became a major victim of vandalism. Criminals have destroyed our infrastructure and many resources in schools without any regard for the education of the children.

“I want to remind our communities that, all schools belong to them. Whenever a school is built at any area, the community need to be responsible to look after that particular school. This destruction happening at our schools will have a negative impact towards the education of learners. I am appealing to the law enforcement agencies to get to the bottom of the cause of fire and arrest the perpetrators”, said MEC Matsemela.

Since the lockdown period the North West Education department has experienced vandalism to over 100 schools. The schools have lost various items which impact negatively to the process of teaching and learning.

A case of arson was opened with the South African Police Service and no one has been arrested to this far.

End.

Issued by Media Liaison Unit

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Elias Malindi (Media Liaison Manager)

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