Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Fire disrupts city school’s celebrations
BIRTHDAY celebrations at Wynberg Boys’ High have been marred due to a fire which destroyed at least four classrooms and left more damaged by water.
Two days of schooling were missed because of the fire which, according to the fire and rescue services, broke out early on Thursday morning.
The fire gutted the English department, leaving a total of “18 classes out of commission”.
According to Western Cape Education Department spokeswoman Jessica Shelver, there were no injuries as there was nobody on the premises at the time of the fire.
Earlier this year the school celebrated its 175th anniversary which saw more than 1 000 pupils parading down Waterloo Green opposite Glebe Cottage, the premises that first housed the school in 1841.
According to school principal Jan De Waal, birthday celebrations are still under way.
“We are still celebrating the 175th anniversary and we had to cancel the cultural event which was meant to be (last night).
“There were 30 schools which were meant to participate in the cultural event.”
De Waal said: “(I am) saddened by the event because a school building is like a part of you, it is like your home so to be gutted by a fire like that is a great loss.”
Shelver said: “Four classrooms were destroyed in the blaze while more classrooms have suffered water damage.
“A cost assessment of the damages has not yet been completed.”
De Waal told Weekend Argus the school would be running a “platoon programme” to help ensure pupils did not miss out on lessons.
“The junior classes will come in the morning and the senior classes in the afternoon.
“We will also be making use of the hall and the library as classrooms to fill the gaps,” he said.
Shelver said, however, no “further details are available as the fire department has not yet concluded their investigation”.
“The school will remain closed until Wednesday next week which will allow the fire department to investigate as well as cordon off unsafe areas.
“Learners will be assisted with catch-up lessons to help bring them up to speed,” said Shelver.
Fire and rescue services spokesman Theo Layne told Weekend Argus there had been no injuries in the fire.
The probable cause was an electrical short circuit.
De Waal estimated the damaged classrooms were likely to be fixed and functioning by the end of the year.
asanda.sokanyile@inl.co.za