MEC MOTSUMI CONDEMNS THE BURNING OF A BLOCK OF CLASSROOMS AT BOITEKONG SECONDARY SCHOOL

The North West Department of Education MEC, Viola Motsumi, has strongly condemned the act of arson that led to the burning of a block of classrooms at Boitekong Secondary School near Rustenburg on Saturday, 27 September 2025.

It is alleged that on, Saturday, 27 September 2025 at 13:40 the School Principal received a call from the School Governing Body Chairperson who reported that there was fire in the school premises in Block C for Life Orientation Department and Block G for Mathematics and Sciences Department.

The School Governing Body Chairperson was informed by a neighbour that the classrooms were on fire. As he arrived at the scene the community members were already trying to extinguish the fire. The fire spread from the offices to the three classrooms, possibility is that initially ignited from the office where it got fuel from the material stored in the offices to the classrooms. Due to lack of buckets, they were unable to extinguish the fire. An attempt was made to put off the fire with the soil.

The fire was finally extinguished after the Fire Department had arrived at the scene and it was also discovered that an attempt was made to set fire in the physical sciences laboratory but it was not possible as the butler prevented the fuse to get into the building.

The MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi expressed her dismay over what she termed a senseless and criminal act that undermines efforts to provide quality education in the province.

“It is deeply disturbing that at a time when we are working tirelessly to improve learning conditions and infrastructure, there are people who choose to destroy these gains. This act is not just an attack on a school building; it is an attack on the future of our children. In 23 days the Grade 12 learners will be sitting for their final examination, this barbaric action cannot be tolerated at all. Our learners have now been robbed with a chance to embark on a massive revision before the examination. This is unacceptable I wish to call all the community members to come forward with any information that may assist in bringing those responsible to justice”, emphasized MEC Motsumi.

The fire damaged the structural building of the block of 4 classrooms, walls peeling off due to the intensity of the fire, roof caving in due to damaged roof timber rafters, corrugated iron sheets as well 69 tables and 128 chairs, the ceiling incurred damage due to smoke, Whiteboards destroyed and lost the Learning and Teaching Supply Material (LTSM).

A case of arson has been opened with the South African Police Service.