Limpopo police are currently investigating the cause of a fire that severely damaged Gidela Secondary School’s administration block in the village of Ximausa, outside Giyani.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning, resulting in the destruction of school furniture and equipment worth over R300,000.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that a burglary took place prior to the fire. An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen, and various items such as stationery, a photocopy machine, a printer, furniture, soccer kits, and school trophies were damaged. The total damage and stolen items are estimated at R341,700.
Police spokesperson Malesela Ledwaba reported that the complainant was alerted by community members to the fire. He quickly rushed to the scene and found that the administration block was already burning. Upon further inspection, he noticed that the doors of the school premises had been forced open.
In addition to the Gidela Secondary School incident, three other neighboring primary schools were also targeted. Laptops and tables were stolen from these schools, adding to the overall sense of concern within the community.
As of now, no arrests have been made. Police are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the investigation. The community remains on high alert as they await further updates from the authorities.
