The provincial spokesperson for Education, Geoffrey van der Merwe, has confirmed that the building has been cordoned off and will remain under police surveillance until investigations have been completed. Accompanied by the mayor of the Kammiesberg Municipality, Susarah Nero, the Head of Department, Moira Marais, and senior officials, the MEC for Education in the province, Zolile Monakali, visited the school on 19 September 2022 to view the extent of the damage and to determine the way forward for teaching and learning at the Garies High School. The visit follows after Van der Merwe had confirmed that the fire destroyed an administration block, eleven classrooms, and ablution blocks.

He, however, mentioned that the school hall, two classrooms, the woodwork room, a storeroom, and an unused ablution block has not been affected. He says that the incident is a massive setback for the department, staff, and learners, including the school community of Garies High.

Van der Merwe says the department will procure 11 mobile classrooms as an immediate intervention to ensure learners can return to school by 11 October 2022. He adds that 21 Grade 12 learners have since been accommodated at the hostel, where they’ll continue with the trial examinations.

According to Van der Merwe, the cause of the fire is not yet known and the police are still busy with their forensic investigation.

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"The Garies High School accommodates a total of 216 learners (which includes 21 Grade 12’s) and 11 educators. The school hostel accommodates 136 learners - 73 girls and 63 boys. We have also noted that answer scripts, learning and teaching support material and furniture have been destroyed by the fire," he said.

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