A blaze, which broke out at Estcourt Primary School has reduced two classrooms to ashes. The school is led to believe that the fire broke out late on Sunday evening, August 14.

The fire extensively destroyed two grade two classrooms, while three other classrooms were broken into. What was once a learning space, where learners feed off educational lessons, is now nothing more than a pile of charred remains. As educators and learners arrived at the school on Monday morning, returning from the weekend, they made this shocking discovery.

Both learners and educators where visibly traumatised to discover their classes were left in ashes, lessons were also disrupted and could not resume as usual. Over the past months Estcourt Primary School has fallen victim to a number of break-ins. The school stated that this is the fifth time this year that the school has been burgled.

They recall that the last time they reported a break-in, a party mask was discovered on scene. Thus far no suspects have been apprehended. The school is growing very concerned, especially for the safety of the learners and school staff. It has been said that these incidents only occur over the weekend.

“By now it’s grown on us to return from the weekend to discover a classroom or two has been broken into, but this is just extreme. The culprits are really toying with us, they would forcefully enter classrooms, eat things used for the feeding scheme, open windows, use the fire extinguisher unnecessarily and it’s really getting out of hand,” commented a representative from the school.

Added safety measures have been put in place since the previous break-ins. The motive behind Sunday’s fire is currently unknown. The local fire department and forensics team were at the scene on Monday morning. The school has filed a case of arson with the Estcourt police and it is currently under investigation.

“Police at Estcourt are investigating a case of arson. At about 8.30pm two classrooms at Estcourt Primary School were found burning. It is unclear at this stage exactly when the fire started or how. The fire was extinguished and no one was reported to be injured,” added police spokesperson Captain Charmaine Struwig.