An entire classroom block at Riverlea Secondary School was destroyed in a late-night fire, raising renewed concerns over school safety and security in Gauteng. Picture Credit: Facebook
By Aisha Zardad
Johannesburg — A devastating fire has ripped through Riverlea Secondary School in Johannesburg, destroying an entire classroom block just hours before learners were due to return for the second term — and once again exposing the growing vulnerability of public schools.
The blaze broke out late on Tuesday night, leaving significant damage in its wake and forcing urgent calls for intervention.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed the extent of the destruction, describing the incident as a major setback for the school.
“It is the devastating fire incident that took place on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and destroyed an entire classroom block at the school,” Mabona said.
In the aftermath, the department has made a stark admission — it simply does not have the financial capacity to secure all schools, placing the burden of protection on surrounding communities.
Mabona said budget constraints have made it impossible to employ security personnel across all institutions, despite ongoing risks.
“We have said to the communities that they need to assist us, work together, and make sure that we safeguard our schools,” he explained.
He warned that schools are particularly vulnerable during recess periods when there is little to no activity on the premises.
“Community members should know that during recess, there’s nothing we do at our schools. If they see something unusual, they need to inform the police.”
“The police have given us assurances that they will assist in safeguarding schools, so they should be able to respond when needed. But if they don’t know, it becomes difficult.”
While security measures have previously been introduced in certain high-risk areas, Mabona acknowledged that these efforts could not be sustained financially.
“Unfortunately, we will not be in a position to afford security personnel at all our schools,” he said. “We therefore call upon members of the community to work with us and safeguard our properties.”
He emphasised that schools are shared community assets that must be protected collectively.
“These are our properties as communities, and we use them for different purposes. When we request permission to use a school, we are granted it, so we need to jealously safeguard our infrastructure.”
The latest incident is not the first time Riverlea Secondary has been targeted. In April 2025, just days before the start of the second term, a fire damaged 11 classrooms used by Grade 8 pupils.
Police later confirmed that three pupils came forward claiming responsibility for that blaze.
The recurrence of such incidents has intensified concerns about school safety and infrastructure protection across Gauteng.
Newly appointed Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, is expected to visit the school on Wednesday morning as authorities assess the damage and next steps.
