Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has strongly condemned the burning of Riverlea Secondary School, describing the incident as unjustifiable and criminal.
“There can be no justification for burning a school,” said Maile during his visit to the school. “The fire which broke out at the school cannot be justified, no matter the level of anger or frustration. This act is criminal and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” Said Maile.
Maile conducted an on-site walkabout to assess the damage caused by the fire, which has reportedly affected around 320 learners. As part of interim measures, Grade 8 and Grade 9 learners are currently being accommodated in the school hall while the institution works with the district office to ensure continuity in learning.
Although three classrooms were not completely destroyed, they remain unusable due to smoke damage and will need to be cleaned before they can be occupied again. The Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed that plans are underway to address the damage while minimizing disruption to teaching and learning.
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