By Everson Luhanga
- Parts of Mpolweni Secondary School were torched and vandalised, with classrooms and offices damaged in the uMgungundlovu District.
- Despite the attack, matric exams will continue in the school hall as repairs and investigations get underway.
Mpolweni Secondary School in the uMgungundlovu District has been torched and vandalised, leaving classrooms and offices damaged just days into the matric exams.
The attack took place this week, with parts of the school set alight and several rooms broken into. Furniture and learning materials were destroyed in the fire.
The school hall, where matric learners are writing their National Senior Certificate exams, was not affected – allowing the tests to continue under tight supervision.
KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka visited the scene and said the destruction was a serious blow to both learners and teachers. He called the attack a deliberate act against education and said it would not go unpunished.
Police and education officials are investigating, while the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education is tightening school security and working with local policing forums to prevent similar incidents.
Community members have been urged to help identify those responsible for the fire and to protect schools in the area from further damage.
The department said repairs will begin once forensic teams complete their work. Temporary measures are being put in place to ensure that learning can continue safely once exams are over.
Pictured above: Fire damage at Mpolweni Secondary School in uMgungundlovu District.
Image source: KZN Department of Education
