The school was damaged by fire on Saturday (29/7). Farmers and local business owners were called by residents to assist with extinguishing the fire. The Free State Education spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, said lessons were postponed on Monday (31/7), to rearrange the classes ahead of the matric’s preliminary exams. Seven classrooms, the staff administration block, and the learners' SBAs were damaged.

Seven classrooms were damaged. Photo supplied

Ndaba expressed gratitude to the teams led by the Chairperson of the Farmers Union and Sector leader to help extinguish the fire using their resources.

"The Free State Department of Education would like to thank the Smithfield farmers and business people for helping to extinguish the blaze at the Relebohile Siyabulela Combined School in the early hours of Saturday morning. It is essential to recognise their efforts and exceptional courage and bravery in saving the infrastructure of the school from the horrendous fire." 

The department will dispatch mobile classrooms in the next two weeks. 

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

OFM News

Equipment in the staff administration block was damaged. Photo supplied