A fire that broke out at BM Choabi Primary School in Promosa has destroyed three classrooms this past week.

The fire broke out on Thursday, October 29 at at approximately 14:00, causing extensive damage to the classrooms, including educational materials and other resources.

The North West Department of Education confirmed the incident in a statement

According to the NW Department of Education press release, five people reportedly suffered smoke inhalation while attempting to extinguish the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the school. They received medical attention following the incident.

Acting MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi expressed her concern about the damage to the school’s infrastructure and the possible impact on teaching and learning.

Mosenogi also stressed the need to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire, including whether there may have been any foul play.

“We are concerned about this incident and the damage caused to the school’s infrastructure, which is an important resource for teaching and learning. While the cause of the fire has not yet been established, we cannot rule out any possibilities at this stage. We trust that the relevant law enforcement authorities will conduct a thorough investigation to determine exactly what happened and whether there was any foul play,” said Mosenogi.

The matter has been reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for investigation. The department has also deployed professionals to assess the structural damage and determine what work is needed to restore the classrooms.

“The North West Department of Education remains committed to ensuring that schools provide safe and conducive environments for teaching and learning. Further updates will be communicated as the assessment and investigation processes progress. Further updates will be provided as the assessment and investigation progress.”