An administration block in a second Eastern Cape school was torched on Friday.
The fresh incident, which happened in Centane, came just hours after another high school’s administration block was torched in Libode.
Ncedisizwe Senior Secondary at Cebe village in Centane was found in flames in the early hours of Friday, resulting in R95,000 worth of damage – and this is just furniture and equipment, excluding the cost of rebuilding the structure.
Hardly 24 hours earlier, Chief Henry Bokleni High School in Ntlaza near Libode, about 200km away from Cebe, was found burning in the early hours of Thursday.
Police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha on Sunday confirmed that police were investigating a case of arson in relation to Ncedisizwe SS.
Manatha said it was alleged that the school had been torched during Thursday night or early on Friday.
“Four classrooms were left open as some learners were having afternoon studies. The principal of the school was alerted telephonically during the early hours of Friday.
“Information technology machines, laptops and school furniture to the value of R95,000 were burnt, and two offices were burnt,” he said.
In both incidents, only the administration blocks were set alight, and police suspect the fires were no accident.
However, Manatha said no arrests have been made yet.
The provincial education department said it was still counting the cost, which it believes will run into millions.
Police have requested anyone with information to contact Centane police station on 047-498-5400 or the Crime Stop hotline at 08600-10111...