Fire at school Mandela rebuilt sparks outrage

SCHOOL records, books and expensive machinery went up in flames as a fire destroyed the administration block at Jongintaba Senior Secondary School near Mthatha yesterday.

Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said a case of arson had been opened. He said the fire was noticed between 3am and 4am yesterday by villagers.

Teachers at the school suspected pupils may have torched the school after a violent rampage in which they smashed windows, demanding scholar transport earlier this week.

While the principal of the school declined to comment, some teachers claimed school records, stationery and 15 computers had been destroyed.

Although the school was built by the community, it was rebuilt with the help of late president Nelson Mandela.

Mandela, born in Mvezo before his family moved to Qunu, grew up in Mqhekezweni under the guardianship of then AbaThembu regent king Jongintaba Mtirara, after whom the school was named.

Mandela’s eldest grandson and chief of Mvezo, Mandla Mandela, said the burning of the school deprived an already underdeveloped community of much-needed infrastructure.

Jongintaba’s great-grandson Zanomthetho Mtirara, who is the chief in the area, placed the blame on school management. He said he had told the school to write a formal letter to him if they wanted his intervention.

Eastern Cape provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said: “If it was arson then someone will have to be arrested.” —