Following the torching of a secondary school in Shaleng, near Pampierstad over the weekend, the North West Department of Education MEC, Viola Ntsetsao Motsumi has appealed to the public to work with the department to protect the school infrastructure.
The North West Department of Education has strongly condemned the torching of Mothelesi Secondary school at Shaleng Village near Pampierstad on Saturday morning, damaging the principal’s office and a classroom.
Two photocopiers, 1 printer, 1 fridge, classroom furniture and school ¬les were damaged by the fire. North West Department of Education spokesperson Elias Malindi said, “At about 06h00am on Saturday, the school principal received a call from a learner residing near the school that the school was on ¬fire,” Malindi stated.
Extra lessons that were meant to be held at the school on Saturday were unable to take place due to the fi¬re. The MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, weighed in regarding the torching of the school.“I take this time to strongly condemn the torching of Mothelesi Secondary School. Such incidents delay the delivery of quality education to the learners.
This incident is going to exacerbate the infrastructural backlogs faced by the province. I want to call the law-enforcement agencies to apprehend anyone behind this horrible incident,” said Motsumi.
The MEC also appealed to members of the public to work with the department to protect school infrastructure. “The department relies on communities to ensure that the much-needed resources are taken care of,” said Motsumi.
The cause of the ¬re is still unknown and the department has urged anyone with information to contact the local police.
