Tabhane High School’s library was burnt down on Wednesday, December 4.

A source close to the school speculates that the fire that left everything in the library in ashes, stems from the previous debacle with the 14 educators that were reinstated.

With note that the school already has a political division with NADTU and SADTU butting heads, the source believes that members of the community as well as some pupils were not pleased as teachers under SADTU refused to issue March/June reports and matric pupils could not apply to universities; and so the unpleasant outbursts toward the 14 occurred.

At a meeting discussing their return, a letter written in October/November of 2012 by a teacher under SADTU to the school’s HOD, arose. The letter contained that the principal was mismanaging funds. However, the investigation has only started this year, with the principal suspended for three months with full pay.

The community, according to the source, does not know that the principal is suspended with pay, and since it favours him, and contributed toward the making of the school, it seems impossible that the society would burn the library.

Upon a request for verification, the Department of Education’s Forensic Investigator said he could not comment and recommended the department’s Media Liaison Officer Muzi Mahlambi, who in turn could not be reached at the office. Although the school is suffering the tumult of political dispute, the source insists that pass rates have been excellent, having had produced one of the largest number of matric exemptions; it is one of the best schools.