Blaze leaves dozens of girls unable to attend school

Gamble Street Secondary School in Uitenhage, whose hostel was partly destroyed by fire last Wednesday (9 August), is struggling to find alternative accommodation for some learners who were sent home after the blaze.

Neither learners nor teachers were injured as they were studying in another section of the building. But they lost most of their personal belongings in the fire. The cause of the fire has not yet been established.

Malibongwe Mtima, spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Education, said that the fire was believed to have started on the second floor of one of the dormitories. “The disaster management section in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality was contacted for assistance with mattresses and blankets because many of the mattresses and blankets were soaking wet from the fire extinguishing process,” he said.

Gamble Secondary School’s deputy principal, P.I. Kettledas said: “We had to send 80 girls to their homes while alternative accommodation was being arranged. However, all grade 11 and 12 learners are back to the school and are busy with their studies. We are still trying to accommodate the remaining 20 girls.”

“We offer boarding facilities to a small number of girls who come from outside of this area. … Most of them cannot afford to pay for transport fare back home.”

Grade 11 learner Andisiwe Kolele, who wants to study law, said she never expected a fire at the school because she considered it safer and more comfortable than her township home in Wells Estate, Port Elizabeth. The grade 11 pupil said, “I considered our hostel to be the safest of all places. … We lost most of our personal belongings, including clothing and books. “

Siyabulela Nqikashe, the treasurer of the School Governing Body, appealed for help with building materials and other necessities that could help the school erect a temporary structure to accommodate the learners who are still at home. He said, “They are missing out on their classes. Our urgent need is to organise accommodation, even if it’s a temporary structure in front of the hostel or within the premises to ensure that they can continue with their learning.”

Kettledas thanked people who had already headed the call to assist the school with donations.

The school can be contacted on 041 991 0757.

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