Grade 8 pupils arrested for school fire!

TWO Grade 8 pupils at Lancea Vale Secondary School in Eldorado Park have been arrested after three classrooms were gutted by fire on Tuesday, 20 August.

The fire started at around 14:26pm and spread rapidly, gutting the classrooms and making the building a structural safety concern.

Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed the arrest to Daily Sun on 21 August, just a day after the incident.

He said the pupils who were arrested were 14 years old.

"Police were conducting routine patrols when they noticed flames coming from one of the schools in Eldorado Park. They proceeded to the school, where they were informed by the educators that a fire had been started by some of the pupils from the school.

"Police started with the preliminary investigation, which led to the arrest of two learners who are suspected of having started the fire," Masondo said.

He further said that both pupils were charged with arson and taken to a place of safety.

They will appear at Lenasia Magistrates Court in due course.

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Meanwhile, Gauteng Education, Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation MEC, Matome Chiloane, has raised concerns over the fire incident that damaged three classrooms within the Grade 8 and Grade 9 block.

Chiloane said preliminary reports indicated that the fire initially started in room 81, located on the first floor of Block C.

With the school affected, he said they are now awaiting a report from firefighters to determine the extent of the damage.

This report will help decide whether it will be safe to continue teaching and learning in the affected block of classrooms.

"The police are investigating circumstances surrounding this incident," the MEC said.

According to Chilaone, the fire that broke out at the school follows a stabbing incident of a pupil by another learner at the same school.

"We will not tolerate violence or gangsterism perpetuated in and around our schools. In the same breath, we are closely monitoring the situation. We are certain that learning and teaching will resume accordingly at the school," Chiloane.