Following the incident, which left 135 learners without a home, the department appointed an emergency contractor to work on the refurbishment of the hostel and finish its work before the end of February. Some of the community members have, however, not received the news with much excitement as they protest the department’s decision to appoint a contractor who is not a member of the affected community. It is alleged that procurement processes were not followed and this leaves contractors and residents in the area out in the cold. The department’s spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, has however refuted these claims and told OFM News that they have agreed with the contractor that 30% of the project must benefit the community, whether in terms of appointing sub-contractors from the immediate community or through work opportunities for them.

He alludes that it remains the department’s priority to rebuild the hostel within the time frame set and ensure that normalcy returns to the school.

Howard could, however, at this stage not clarify how much the project will cost the department.

OFM News previously reported that learners are at this stage accommodated at an unused facility on the school's premises, which also needs to be renovated.

During a visit to the school earlier this week, Education MEC Tate Makgoe said infrastructure development at the school is going to be prioritised as the school has a rich history and indeed needs to be renovated.

OFM News