Three classrooms at Ramaine – A – Phetlhu Secondary School, in Magogoe village, in Mahikeng were set alight on Wednesday evening, 1 July. The classrooms were for the school’s Grades 10 and 11 learners that would be phased in.
Elias Malindi, the Department of Education spokesperson says “Three burning tyres were placed in front of two classrooms and by extension, another classroom was affected.”
Out of the three, two classrooms are severely damaged, and the other one, was only moderately damaged.
The furniture in the classrooms and a section of the roof was burnt.
The fire department and police attended to the incident.
Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and says the police are investigating a case of malicious damage to property. No arrests have yet been made.
North West MEC of Education, Mmaphefo Matsemela pleads with the community to assist with identifying the culprit as this caused a setback, in addition to the academic year that has already been compromised due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
“The Department is tirelessly working on phasing in more grades and this kind of setback is gravely unacceptable,” said MEC Matsemela.
Malindi says there are alternative classrooms that will be made available.
