THOHOYANDOU – LEARNERS OF Johannes Ramavhoya Secondary School in Khakhanwa village near Thohoyandou are receiving lessons under the trees after their school was petrol-bombed, allegedly by Malamulele protesters, last Wednesday night.
South African National Civic Organisation Khakhanwa village secretary, Thembani Mugudi, said two classrooms, the administration block, laboratory and almost all the furniture was destroyed in the fire.
Mugudi said he received a phone call at around midnight from one of the villagers who lived next door to the school, saying there was smoke coming from the school’s premises. “I rushed to the scene with some residents. We broke the gate open as well as some window panes in order to get access to the burning classrooms. We fetched water to extinguish the fire and removed some furniture to try to save it. We managed to save three classrooms,” he said.
He said he felt like he was dying when he inhaled the smoke. “The ceiling collapsed immediately after I left the building. I was taken to Tshilidzini Hospital for treatment,” he said.
He further said parents of the learners had had a meeting following the fire to discuss the future of their children. “We agreed that they should continue going to school as usual, and where necessary receive lessons under the trees.
“A local pastor offered us his church to use as a classroom and an ANC ward councillor said he would try to organise mobile classrooms,” Mugudi said.
He further said the people of Malamulele had warned them to be in solidarity with them in their fight for a stand-alone municipality.
“They also warned us not to attend school and we refused to listen, in the interest of our children’s future.
“Now they have vented their anger by burning our school,” Mugudi said.
Provincial police spokesperson, Ronél Otto said the police were investigating the cause of the fire and any suspects would be arrested. “This was the fourth school to be set alight following days of violent protests in the area,” she said.
Education spokesperson, Paena Galane, said the province faced a huge backlog in infrastructure. “Burning that which we have will worsen the problem,” he said.
“The people of Malamulele should respect properties when they are protesting. Their right to protest shouldn’t violate the rights of children to go to school and the rights of workers to go to work,” Galane said.
Malamulele task team spokesperson, Dr Isaiah Ndhambi, distanced the task team from the burning of schools. “We do not encourage anyone to burn down any school,” he said.
