Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile says it will cost approximately R45 million to repair Riverlea Secondary School in Johannesburg after a fire that broke out on Tuesday night.
A library, two storerooms and a science laboratory were damaged in the blaze, which is suspected to be an arson attack. It is the second time the school has been affected by fire, following a similar incident last year.
Maile said about 320 learners have been impacted, specifically those in Grades 8 and 9, while learners in Grades 10 to 12 were not affected and continue with normal classes.
“320 learners are affected, and these are learners in Grades 8 and 9. The learners in Grades 10, 11 and 12 are in their classes, not affected at all,” he said.
He strongly condemned the incident, describing the burning of a school as unjustifiable and criminal.
“There can be no justification for burning a school. Why not burn a tavern? Burn drug houses, not a school. It has to be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” Maile said.
The MEC has called on the local community to assist authorities in identifying those responsible for the attack, as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.