By Bahle Gama
It will cost ka-Boyce High School over E200 000 to refurbish the burnt houses at the teachers’ quarters.
In an interview, ka-Boyce High School Principal Stephen Shabangu said when calculations were made with the school committee, they amounted to over E200 000, excluding labour costs.
This includes replacing the roofing and painting the walls which were severely damaged in the one-storey building during the fire on February 7. Fire personnel responded to a call that a house was on fire at the school quarters where upon arrival they found everything gutted down and an electrical fault was suspected to be the cause.
The police and EEC personnel were also found at the scene whereby they stated that a report was yet to be compiled. In response to what the status report was, the principal said they had received one from the fire department but could not disclose its contents. He further stated that they had requested one from EEC and the police.
“The EEC told us they were waiting for the reports from the police and fire department whilst they conduct a further investigation. They also requested that the teachers submit their claims of the damages incurred as part of the investigation,” he said.
In terms of the costs suffered by the teachers, he said he was unaware at the moment because one of the teachers, identified as Mr. Lukhele from whose house the fire broke out had been on sick leave since schools opened on January 24.
“At the moment it is difficult to ascertain how much everything he lost was worth as he is currently still on leave and has made means to house his family post the incident,” he said.
The other teacher, Faith Msibi in the semi-attached house was moved to an empty house where she currently resides whilst waiting for the renovation of the houses. In an interview, Msibi projected that she would have to spend about E10 000 in damages from her house and further expressed her concern towards Lukhele.
