Klerksdorp – Security measures at the North West School for the Deaf in Leeudoring near Wolmaranstad were at acceptable national standard, North West Education MEC Mmaphefo Matsemela said on Tuesday.
“Security at all special schools in the province are at acceptable level. At Leeudoring there is an evacuation plan. There are beams which flash when there is fire. It was at night when the fire broke out. The girls were walking towards the evacuation space. They were taught about safety.”
Matsemela visited the family of Dinah Koli, 18, one of the three girls who died when a fire ripped through the girls hostel on Monday at 1am. A total of 54 others were admitted to hospital for smoke inhalation and injuries sustained when jumping from the first to the ground floor, but all had been discharged by Monday night.
Neo Mothibedi, spokesman for the Koli family, said they were shocked by Dinah’s death.
“We are deeply hurt. We were at the school on Monday, the security there is right. We are not blaming anyone or speculating. We will wait for investigations to continue,” he said.
Koli would be laid to rest on Saturday.
Another of the victims was Katlego Diseko, 16, from Ramatlabama near Mahikeng, while the other girl was from Kuruman in the Northern Cape. However, her name has not yet been released.
ANA