Mahikeng- North West MEC for Social Development Fenny Gaolaolwe on Sunday moved 74 children from Boikagong Child and Youth Care Centre to places of safety following the fierce flames of fires that burnt down three blocks of the centre three times in a row.

On Wednesday around 16h30 one block of the centre was partly burnt down causing damage to the structure and other amenities used at the centre. Again on Sunday two adjacent blocks were caught by fire around 11h00 and also at 13h00.

Yesterday, North West MEC for Social Development Fenny Gaolaolwe took a drastic decision to close the centre and move all 74 children to two alternative places of safety around Mahikeng. About sixteen babies from 0-6 years were moved to the place of safety known to the department while the other 58 school going children were moved to another place of safety. The places of safety could not be named for security reasons.

“At this stage we cannot ascertain the cause of the fires. We call on speedy forensic investigations so that the operation of the centre is brought to normal. The structure has been damaged. Beds, school uniform, clothes, books, some mattresses, the ceiling, windows and water pipes were destroyed by mysterious fires. With God’s help no children or staff members were hurt during the three incidents,” Gaolaolwe said, adding that her department is still to assess the damage and draw a plan to renovate the centre.

Necessary arrangements, Gaolaolwe said have been made to provide food to all children while they are temporarily in places of safety. She said transport has been arranged to ferry children to various schools around Mahikeng so that they do not miss their classes.

“Since yesterday our social workers have been providing trauma counselling to children,” Gaolaolwe concluded.
-TDN
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