A burning electrical cable sent learners scrambling for safety at Mayibuye High School on July 27, forcing the school to release learners early and raising fresh concerns about the safety of the school’s infrastructure.

The incident occurred on the learners’ first day back after parents and community members suspended their protest to allow teaching and learning to resume. A video, shared with the Midrand Reporter, shows an exposed electrical cable engulfed in flames while panicked learners run away from the scene.

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People can be heard shouting for others to throw sand onto the burning cable in an attempt to put out the fire.
The latest safety scare comes just days after the Midrand Reporter published an article titled, Parents close Mayibuye High School, accusing Gauteng Department of Education of ignoring safety concerns.

On July 22, parents, school governing body (SGB) members, and community leaders shut down the school, stating that the deteriorating infrastructure, broken toilets, and lack of basic resources had made the school unsafe for both learners and teachers. They accused the Gauteng department of education (GDE) of continuing to turn a blind eye to the challenges facing the container school, and demanded urgent intervention.

Although the school reopened on July 27 after parents agreed that learners could not afford to lose more teaching time, the return to class was short-lived.

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SGB member Elizabeth Sithole said the electrical incident caused panic among learners and staff, forcing the school to send learners home as a precaution. “The problems at the school are getting worse.”
She believes the consequences could have been devastating. “If the cable had not been seen in time, I am sure the entire school could have caught fire.”

Midrand Reporter had sent questions to the GDE on July 25, seeking comment on the school’s deteriorating conditions and asking when the reported infrastructure problems would be addressed. The department acknowledged receipt of the inquiry on the same day.

In a follow-up on July 27, the GDE said it was still reviewing the matter. “We received your inquiry over the weekend and are currently reviewing it. We will get back to you with an update before the end of the week,” the department said. “We appreciate your patience and understanding while we complete our review.”

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