Fire incident causes damage to school infrastructure in Mopani
A devastating fire that broke out at Realedisha Senior Secondary School, Mopani District in the early hours of Thursday, caused extensive damage to critical school infrastructure, essential documents and important records.
The fire was first noticed at 05:15 by members of the community who immediately raised the alarm. Despite the swift two classrooms and the administrative block housing the principal’s office, deputy principal’s office, and clerk’s office were completely destroyed.
ALSO READ: Premier Ramathuba, Mayor Mpe tackle illegal water connections
Efforts by the community and school members prevented further destruction, saving items from adjacent classrooms. This includes textbooks, stationery, kitchen utensils, and educator files. Firefighters arrived just after an hour but by then. Significant damage had already occurred, leaving only two classrooms intact.

REALEDISHA SECONDARY SCHOOL FIRE CAUSES MORE DAMAGE ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE
The fire caused the loss of essential school materials, including:
- Academic and administrative records (school policies, registers, financial and human resource files, matric certificates, and mark sheets).
- Office equipment and furniture (photocopiers, printers, laptops, air conditioners, steel cabinets, and school trophies).
- Subject-specific resources, including Grade 10–12 educators’ files, question papers, and science apparatus.
- Schoolwide electrical infrastructure, including the circuit board, which impacts the electricity and water supply from the borehole system.
The incident has disrupted the school’s daily operations, including the Grade 10–12 classes and the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) was disrupted on the day of the incident
“A suspect was arrested on 24 January 2025 after stolen school property was discovered at his homestead,” said the department.
“The school urgently appeals for assistance from stakeholders, including local businesses and community members to help rebuild and restore operations.
“The school principal has assured parents and learners that all efforts will be made to resume normal classes promptly, with learners released early on the day of the incident to ensure their safety and well-being.”