JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Education Department needs R45-million to refurbish Riverlea Secondary School after it was gutted by a fire just a day before the reopening of the second term.
The fire gutted several classrooms on Tuesday, and it disrupted classes of at least 700 pupils.
READ | Fire erupts again at Riverlea Secondary school ahead of reopening
This is not the first time the school has been engulfed in flames.
A similar incident happened last April, when a fire destroyed classrooms just six days before the start of the term.
At the time, three minors had come forward claiming they had a hand in the fire.
READ | Three 11-year-olds come forward following Riverlea High School fire
During a visit to the school on Wednesday, Gauteng MEC for Education and Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile revealed another incident that took place in 2007.
This, he said, highlights a disturbing pattern that needs to be addressed. He added that the fire which broke out at the school cannot be justified.
“There is a pattern, but also there is a problem of crime. It affects the school. We want to make sure we address infrastructure challenges immediately.
Structural engineers will be brought to inspect the site.
Maile advised against bringing in temporary classrooms when there are classes that can be renovated.
READ | Riverlea school blaze under investigation
Community leader Theo Doyle argued otherwise, saying that since the previous fire, nothing has been done from the Department of Education, besides bringing in mobile classrooms.
"It's quite frustrating because I believe that the development for the school is long overdue.”
But Gauteng Education Department spokesperson Steve Mabona dismissed claims that they have neglected the school.