Gauteng Education Dept concerned over suspected gangsterism at Eldorado Park school
The department’s expression of concern followed a fire incident on Tuesday at Lancea Vale Secondary School that gutted three classrooms in the school's grades 8 and 9 blocks.
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JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Department Education has expressed concern over suspected gangsterism at a school in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg.
This followed a fire incident on Tuesday at Lancea Vale Secondary School that gutted three classrooms in the school's grades 8 and 9 blocks.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire flared up in a room located on the first floor of the building.
The Gauteng Department of Education said the fire spread rapidly, burning three classrooms to the ground and compromising the structural safety of the building.
Working with limited information, it said firefighters would provide a report on the extent of the damage.
This will inform whether it will be safe to continue with teaching and learning in the affected blocks.
Meanwhile, police are running a concurrent probe in addition to an Emergency Management Services (EMS) one.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said: "It is indeed concerning that last week Wednesday there was a stabbing incident. We will not tolerate violence or gangsterism perpetuated in and around our schools.”
Circumstances surrounding the incident remain sketchy at this stage.