A devastating fire at Riverlea High School in Johannesburg has left eleven classrooms completely destroyed. The fire, which broke out just before 6pm on Sunday, has been labeled as arson by Gauteng police, sparking an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.
Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Xolile Khumalo revealed that the affected classrooms were located in the old building of the school. Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo stated that a team of senior detectives, including members from the Forensic Science Laboratory, are working to identify the culprits responsible for the fire. Anyone with information is urged to contact Captain Merinah Netshidzati.
The Gauteng Education Department confirmed that the burnt classrooms were being used by Grade 8 learners, with the rest unoccupied. Additionally, the boys’ toilet block was completely destroyed, impacting all male students at the school. Despite the devastation, plans are in place to minimize disruption to learning when school resumes on May 5, 2025.
Temporary arrangements include using the school hall for affected learners and the delivery of four fully furnished mobile classrooms to replace the lost ones. However, the incident has left the community outraged, with resident Edward Scheepers calling for increased security measures to safeguard the school premises.
While approximately 230 learners have been directly impacted by the fire, efforts are underway to swiftly normalize the situation. The rest of the school’s infrastructure remains intact, ensuring that operations for other grades can continue without significant challenges. The community is rallying for support from the Department of Education to prevent such incidents in the future and protect the students and staff of Riverlea High School.
