Five mobile classrooms at MJ Mgidi Secondary school burnt down leaving learners without much-needed resources

7 October 2021

Five mobile classrooms at MJ Mgidi Secondary School in Soshanguve, Tshwane was set alight yesterday, leaving learners without classrooms, learning materials and equipment.

The cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage, however, learning and teaching will be disrupted when schools reopen from the recess period.

The only people who suffer from these actions are the learners who will now be taught in overcrowded classrooms, while some will not have classrooms at all. This is putting further strain on the already constrained resources of the Gauteng Department of Education.

It has become a norm for community members to express their dissatisfaction by destroying community resources. With current issues of the ANC’s candidate nomination process battle in the area, we cannot rule out the possibility of disgruntled community members allegedly being involved.

We urge communities to safeguard and protect our schools as these are precious resources meant to improve the lives of children.

The DA demands that the South African Police Service (SAPS) must urgently investigate the cause of the fire and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

Burning down public property, specifically schools, is destroying the future of our children and the country.
The residents of Tshwane face a clear choice at the ballot box on 1 November – a choice between more violence and burning down of schools from the ANC, or the DA’s agenda to restore order and maintain infrastructure.

Issued by Khume Ramulifho, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, 7 October 2021