By Kaya 959 Reporter
Six Grade 12 learners have been linked to a fire at Gauteng’s Glenvista High School earlier this week.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson, Captain Mavela Masondo, said no arrests had been made and investigations were ongoing.
He added that a case had been opened at the Mondeor police station for investigation.
It is alleged that learners set fire to the school hall, refusing to sit for a scheduled assessment.
Glenvista High principal Thobile Morgan said she had left for a meeting and received a text message about a fire at the school on Monday. She said fire and emergency teams were called to the scene.
The blaze was quickly extinguished but not before damaging school property including a PA system, a projector screen, curtains and electrical wiring were damaged in the blaze.
The estimated value of the damaged equipment is said to be around R400 000.
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Exams continue
Learners ended up writing the assessment on the sport’s field.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the school’s governing body is also investigating.
He said at the moment between five and six pupils have been linked to the incident.
Gauteng MEC for Education’s Panyaza Lesufi said while they were devastated by the incident, his department would not be forking out money to fix the damage.
“The school must see to it, until it is finished,” he said.
Yesterday they burnt the school hall because they didn’t want to write an exam. Today, they wrote the exams outside. So sad 😭 #GlenvistaHigh @EducationGP1 @Steve_Mabona pic.twitter.com/rUEr0td5oW
— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) August 17, 2021
This isn’t the school’s first brush with the law. In 2019, police recovered dagga during a raid.
The dagga was placed in bags and stapled to a birthday card. Sniffer dogs also sniffed out space muffins concealed in a lunch box.
Every pupil’s bag was searched. Police also found a variety of other contraband items including a hookah pipe and cigarettes. The school also made headlines when a pupil attacked a teacher with a broom.



