Vuwani - Lessons resumed in troubled Vuwani on Wednesday morning – three months after schools in the area were torched in violent protests against demarcation.
At least 20 schools were torched in during the protests in May, which culminated in a boycott of last week’s municipal elections. Several other schools were also vandalised.
Although schooling has resumed at most schools, learners at Mugoidwa Secondary School will have to wait a while longer because arsonists torched four classrooms overnight.
Fourteen-year-old Ompha Mukwevho was one of many children who excitedly walked to their schools on Wednesday morning. But when Mukwevho reached her school, Mugoidwa Secondary, she was shocked to find classrooms had been burnt and vandalised.
Mukwevho peered through the window of a classroom in disbelief.
The school was apparently set alight on Tuesday night.
Another Mugoidwa pupil, Mvelelo Mushavhi,14, said she was hurt and worried about the shortage of classrooms. Four classrooms were badly burnt and cannot be used.
Bewildered teachers were seen congregating outside the classrooms.
At assembly principal Richard Ramulumu appealed to pupils to focus on their studies.
“As you know your class has been burnt, but we will do everything to make sure that you are taught,” said Ramulumu.
Grade eight pupil Mukwevho later said: “It is painful that our classroom has been torched, it’s been three months and I was hoping that we will start again, but now I don’t know where we are going to be accommodated”.
Mukwevho did not write her mid-year examination.
Provincial Education Department spokesman Naledzani Rasila said there were plans to make sure that lost time would be recovered.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Ronel Otto said investigations are under way.
“The cause of fire is not known yet, forensic services will conduct investigations to determine the cause,” she said.
African News Agency