Riverlea, Johannesburg — A fire tore through Riverlea High School on the evening of Sunday, 27 April, leaving a trail of destruction and displacing over 230 learners, the Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed.
The devastating blaze, which broke out around 18:00, destroyed 11 classrooms and the entire boys’ toilet block. Preliminary findings suggest the fire started in an unused classroom before rapidly spreading through one of the school’s main blocks.
Four of the classrooms that were lost were actively used by Grade 8 learners, while the remaining rooms were unoccupied at the time. The toilet block’s destruction now affects all male students, adding further urgency to the recovery efforts.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed grave concern during a media briefing, calling the incident “deeply troubling” and promising immediate intervention to restore normalcy.
“We remain committed to supporting the Riverlea High School community and will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds,” said Chiloane.
An emergency academic plan is already in motion. From Monday, 5 May, affected students will be temporarily housed in the school hall. Additionally, the Department is fast-tracking the delivery of four mobile classrooms, fully equipped to accommodate teaching and learning.
Fortunately, the rest of the school’s infrastructure was spared, allowing other grades to resume their studies without significant disruption.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the fire, with concerns of possible foul play. Community members are urged to come forward with any information that may assist law enforcement.
The fire has not only scorched school property but also shaken a community. Yet, efforts to rebuild and restore learning are already underway — a testament to resilience in the face of devastation.
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