A fire broke out at Dawn Park Primary School at about 02:00 on August 13, leaving 250 learners without classrooms and raising questions about its cause.
According to the principal, Vusi Motaung, the blaze started in the tuckshop and then quickly spread to three Grade Six classrooms and the kitchen used for the school’s feeding scheme.
“A security guard noticed the smoke and immediately pressed the panic button, which prompted a response from the security company and members of the school governing body (SGB).
“Firefighters were called and arrived promptly.”
Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) spokesperson Tikkie Macdonald, said firefighters from the Vosloorus and Thokoza Fire Stations responded after receiving a call at about 03:30.
“They worked diligently to control the blaze which had already engulfed the tuckshop, a storeroom and three classrooms.
“No injuries or fatalities were reported.
“The cause of the fire remains unknown, however, police are investigating.”
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Struggle
The principal expressed deep concern over the impact of the damage on learners.
“Textbooks, stationery and food supplies for the feeding scheme were destroyed. We are concerned about how learners will be fed in the coming weeks.
“We are temporarily relocating learners to two prefab classrooms, but these are not conducive to learning because it is very cold in these classrooms.
“Many chairs and desks were destroyed, forcing learners to share what remains.”
SGB member Sipho Msimang voiced the community’s frustration over the ongoing struggle for adequate facilities.
“If more classrooms had been constructed, the situation would not have been this dire.
“Now learners are forced to use the prefab classes, which are not ideal in cold and windy weather.
“We have been begging the department for almost four years for more classrooms.”
Msimang said, the school, originally designed for 800 learners, is now grappling with nearly 2 300 learners, exacerbating overcrowding issues.
“The Department of Education visited the site shortly after the fire, and we hope they do something about this because we have been knocking on their door for assistance for four years.”
Spokesperson of the Dawn Park SAPS, Sergeant Nkemeleng Mabula, confirmed that a case has been opened, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway.
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