Cape Times

Holy Cross Primary School loses new library in fire

- CHEVON BOOYSEN chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

PUPILS and teachers at Holy Cross Primary School in Zonnebloem were reeling in shock after a fire destroyed a newly renovated library yesterday.

The Liyabona Library was named in honour of school pupil Liyabona Mbaba, who died in a taxi crash in August.

It is not clear what started the blaze which broke out after midday.

Recently, the Chris Otto Foundation started renovation­s at the school to accommodat­e a “dream library”, said foundation spokespers­on Karen Breytenbac­h.

She said a teacher was injured while rescuing a Grade R boy hiding behind the door of a burning classroom.

“We are devastated by the fire. The library was nearly set to be launched with a small party as the final touches were being done to it,” Breytenbac­h said.

School principal Nomthandaz­o Zweni said: “I am very sorry, I cannot speak now. We are very traumatise­d and I’m not in a good space.”

A lot of love and hours were put into the project, said Breytenbac­h.

She urged the public to donate navy or black school backpacks and stationary as all 35 Grade R pupils lost their school bags and stationery in the fire.

Chris Otto Foundation project manager Nonikiwe Mashologo said: “We are very sad that the library was lost but we will start from scratch again.”

ER24 spokespers­on Russel Meiring said a metro officer helped with evacuation at the school but had suffered smoke mild smoke inhalation.

“The officer was treated and thereafter transporte­d to a nearby private hospital for further treatment,” Meiring said.

City fire and rescue services spokespers­on Theo Layne said eight fire engines and 27 firefighte­rs were dispatched to battle the blaze.

To donate to the Chris Otto Foundation NPO, e-mail nonikiwe@chrisottof­oundation.com or call 021 224 0892.

At the same time, three helicopter­s and 14 firefighti­ng vehicles were dispatched to a fire on Kloof Nek Road.

At the Kloof Nek fire, Layne said Table Mountain National Parks assisted in the firefighti­ng efforts.

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