Katlehong community denies torching school
The education department in Gauteng says despite the denial by the Katlehong that they were responsible for the burning of a school, the department still doesn’t have the money to fix it.
Katlehong Primary School was set alight during a service delivery protest last week.
The department says it accepts a report by the principle, which suggests that it might not have been the community which burnt the school.
Spokesperson Steve Mabona says the act of arson might have been the work of a lone member of the community.
Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi previously warned that the government won’t spend any of its money to fix the building.
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"We fully support the community’s standpoint and henceforth, we will work with them and the police to apprehend this rogue element. However, the reality is that we do not have funds to repair the school, the department is at an advanced stage to check what can be salvaged from this mess," Lesufi said.
The new school term starts on Tuesday and the affected learners will be accommodated.
"It has been established that only two Grade R classes were burnt, and as such the affected learners will temporarily be accommodated at two identified classes at the same school. Teaching and learning will resume as planned tomorrow,” said Lesufi.