A fire at Sewagodimo Technical School in Pella Village on Sunday (23/8) destroyed five workshops, classrooms and storerooms. The school had hosted a matric camp over the weekend, followed by a parents’ meeting. Educators left at about 17:00, and management was alerted to the fire at 17:53.

North West education spokesperson Elias Malindi said police and firefighters were immediately contacted, but the blaze was already in its final stages when emergency crews arrived. All five workshop units, each consisting of a classroom and storeroom, were reportedly destroyed. A separate storeroom outside the block was also burnt down.

The cause remains unknown, and investigators are expected to establish what sparked the fire. The department has deployed inspectors to the school to assess the damage and determine what support will be needed to restore the affected facilities and limit disruption to teaching and learning.

The incident follows a fire at Matlhare Mokautu Secondary School in Monakato township on Friday (21/8). The school hall and several facilities were extensively damaged. The losses included sections of the roof and ceiling, kitchen fittings, toilets, basins, doors, windows, old books and firefighting equipment.

The Matlhare Mokautu Secondary School in Monakato / was extensively damaged. Photo supplied 

Malindi said damage at Matlhare Mokautu was estimated at more than R5m. The cause of that fire has also not been established. The two incidents within days of each other have added pressure on a department already dealing with a backlog of schools that require construction or renovation.

North West education MEC Dr Desbo Mohono condemned the destruction and warned damaged school infrastructure would force the department to redirect limited resources. Money intended for other schools could now be needed to repair facilities that had previously been in good condition.

Mohono urged communities to provide police with information that could help identify anyone responsible if criminal conduct is established. Investigations into both fires are continuing, while the department assesses the extent of the damage and what will be required to restore the affected schools.

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