By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
7 November 2024- The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West calls for an in-depth probe into the fire that gutted six Grade 12 classrooms at Rauwane Sepeng Secondary School in Tlhabane Township, near Rustenburg. MRM described it as a crisis that points to the need for safety, fire prevention protocols and equipment at schools to be reviewed.
MRM provincial convenor, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said the movement promoting the Charter of Positive Values and Ubuntu expressed relief that, there were no casualties to learners and educators or fatalities in the Monday incident that caused extensive damage that could run to over a R1 million.
“We commend the swift response of the Rustenburg Local Municipality Fire and Emergency and urge law enforcement agencies not to leave any stone unturned.
“Recent trends of destruction of public infrastructure in our province cannot rule out treacherous acts of sabotage or nefarious acts whose motive might be aimed at creating chaos and instability,” he said.
Kgwele shared the North West MEC FOR Education, Viola Motsumi sentiments that the incident is a significant drawback given the huge inherited school infrastructure delivery backlog that the province has to deal with. He further expressed concern about the extent to which the destruction of the classes, Head of Department ‘s Office and toilets will impact on exams at the school and the time that it would take to renovate the gutted classrooms.
“We appeal to our communities to jealously guard and protect their facilities as well as assist police in their investigations. We also urge local churches to assist with provision of temporary relief for the school to use their facilities for internal examinations.
“Sound community values that promote and harness collective responsibility within our communities as espoused by the Charter of Positive Values must be entrenched in order to promote responsible freedom, as well as the rule of law as well as zero-tolerance to crime and violence,” said Kgwele.
Meanwhile, The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said: “No injuries have been reported as all learners and staff were able to evacuate the premises safely. This tragic event, which has destroyed a vital section of our school infrastructure, is a significant setback.
“This unfortunate event destroying a block of classrooms, is incredibly distressing and represents a significant setback, particularly as Grade 12 candidates are currently undertaking their final exams.”
Motsumi added that this will undoubtedly affect the school’s operations and efforts. She said that they are also facing a significant backlog in school construction and maintenance projects, which will be addressed in the 2024–2025 financial year.
“We must prioritise the rebuilding of a safe and functional educational environment. The cause of the fire is still under investigation,” said Motsumi.
The Guardian 