Durban - Nine suspects were taken into custody on Tuesday night after they had been linked to the torching of eSokheni High School.
Kranskop police – assisted by Crime Intelligence – charged the nine with arson and theft.
The Mercury reported on Tuesday that the pupils were demanding "a more beautiful school", scholar transport and for the provincial Department of Education to provide them with breakfast, as well as the lunch it already gives them.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane said in a statement that police also recovered goods such as bicycles, laptops and cellphones that were allegedly taken during the torching of the school.
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“They will appear in the Kranskop Magistrate’s Court soon once our investigation is completed.”
Zwane said that on Monday at 11.45am, pupils from the high school in Kranskop near Greytown allegedly torched the school, setting classrooms alight and vandalising principal’s office.
“They were not happy about the condition of the school.
During the incident, it is alleged that the pupils took property from the school and fled the scene.”
KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Bheki Langa welcomed the swift arrest made by the police.
“I strongly warn the learners not to vandalise the property. Damaging property will not solve the problems and it will take years to fix the damages caused by them at school. Learners need to resolve their differences with the school management or with the officials from Department of Education,” he said.