The North West Education Department's spokesperson, Elias Malindi, says that the community residing near the school in Ipelegeng Township near Schweizer-Reneke allegedly saw the mobile classroom on fire and immediately called the fire department.

He says they tried to extinguish the fire, however, the fire had already destroyed the classroom, desks, chairs and textbooks. Malindi says that the damages are estimated to cost almost R180 000. According to Malindi, the cause of fire is unknown and under investigation.

He expressed his disappointment in such incidents that keeps on infringing on learners education.

"As a department we are mandated to protect the right to education for all learners by providing them with resources. We wish the law to take its own full cause against those behind this incident. The department keeps on being drawn backwards by those opposed to progress the system.

"Learners have lost a lot of teaching time due to lockdown and while we try to reverse the losses, some people continue to sabotage the good efforts of the department," said Malindi.

He further adds that a mobile classroom - that was used as a storeroom during the reopening of schools - will replace the one that burned down.

OFM News