Gauteng’s education department has opened a case of malicious damage to property, following an incident at East Bank High School in which learners allegedly burned school furniture.

The incident occurred on August 11, as learners complained about broken windows and cold weather conditions. Some reportedly resorted to burning old school chairs in response.

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MEC for Education, Sports, Arts, Culture, and Recreation Lebogang Maile condemned the vandalism of infrastructure, and confirmed that the matter is under investigation.

“There is absolutely no excuse for destroying scarce education resources or destroying teaching and learning.”

Maile noted that the department had issued a weather alert specifically cautioning learners against making fires on school premises. “We foresaw this risk and we take serious exception to this kind of criminality.”

The torching of furniture comes amid the school’s severe infrastructure shortages linked to overcrowding. Maile confirmed that East Bank High was designed to accommodate approximately 1 200 learners, but currently has 2 064 students, 863 more than capacity. The school, according to Maile, faces a deficit of approximately 1 200 desks and 600 chairs.

Earlier this year, Alex News reported that the infrastructure challenges at the school had left many learners sharing desks, and others studying while seated on the floor with books on their laps.
Maile also noted that the school opened this year with intact windows, but approximately 60 now require repairs following the recent damages.

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The Alexandra Parliamentary Constituency Office (PCO) condemned the incident, emphasising that schools must remain safe learning environments.

“The burning of desks, chairs, and the damaging of school facilities not only undermines the educational environment; it deprives learners of resources that are already under severe strain,” the office said.

Ntsako Mogobe, member of the provincial legislature responsible for Alexandra, equated the destruction of infrastructure with damaging children’s futures. “At a time when Eastbank is already overcrowded, we cannot afford to lose even one desk or one chair. Let us choose discipline, dialogue, and respect for learning.”

The PCO acknowledged the pressures facing the school, and called for a co-ordinated response.

“These realities require a united response from government, the school governing body, parents, and the broader community to protect existing resources while advocating for additional support.”

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