Spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe, says an internal task team will be visiting the JJ Booysen Primary School today after most of its classrooms burned down on Friday. Police told OFM News earlier that a case of arson is being investigated. 

According to police spokesperson, Dimakatso Mooi, local officers were busy patrolling the streets in town when they noticed smoke coming from the school building. Mooi says no arrests have been made yet. According to Van der Merwe, five classrooms burned and at this stage more than 200 learners are affected. 

He says the department is looking into measures to accommodate learners next week as schools in the province re-open on Monday after the school holidays. An option is to provide mobile classrooms until a permanent solution can be found.

 Van der Merwe says only two classrooms accommodating more than 70 preschool learners were not damaged in the fire. He says the task team will provide a detailed report after their visit to the school. 

The report will enable the department to come up with solutions to ensure education continues next week.

 Van der Merwe did not want to comment on the police’s investigation.

OFM News