11 classrooms gutted by blaze at Riverlea school

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Department of Education suspects that a fire at high school in Riverlea started in an unused classroom. 

The blaze, which destroyed a block of 11 classes, erupted on Sunday evening.

No injuries have been reported, and police are investigating the cause of the fire.

Gauteng Education Spokesperson Steve Mabona said mobile classrooms will be provided.

"So in this block, we have about 11 classes, and out of 11 one was utilised as a block of toilets for boys. So, four classes we were using for Grade 8 learners, which is about 213 learners, that will be affected by this fire.

Mabona said they suspect that there were people on school premises at the time of the fire.

"The suspicion is that there might have been people inside the school. We are just not sure...The police really need to assist us to investigate. We call upon the community to be our eyes and ears in all our schools because during recess, our challenge is theft."