Pupils from a Port St Johns technical high school yesterday burnt down their school after they demanded more teachers.

The pupils from Mhlanganisweni Technical High School in Kwanyana Village burnt three classroom blocks of the school and an administration block housing the principal’s office.

This is the third technical high school burnt in Port St Johns and Mthatha since April.

Villagers tried to stop the pupils from smashing teachers’ vehicles.

The school governing body (SGB) chairman Xhwele Mveni said that they had to do everything possible to prevent the angry pupils from setting another office alight while a teacher was locked inside.

“The pupils apparently wanted to burn him by setting the office on fire,” said Mveni.

“The pupils last week threatened teachers as they demanded that the school principal bring the five teachers they demanded. The principal had promised that he would come with answers,” said Mveni.

The principal did not pitch for work as he was unable to get teachers.

“But we have learnt that the department was to give them at least three teachers by Friday.

“We were expecting to have them tomorrow [Friday], but the pupils burnt the school.

“The school will have the teachers they demanded, but there will be no classrooms,” said Mveni.

The senior traditional leader of the area, Chief Sinikele Bakhokele Ndamase, the head of the Mhlanganisweni Traditional Council, strongly condemned the torching of the school and said it was an act of criminality.

“The community spent huge sums of the money and held a fundraiser on their own to have the school built.

“All that they have done for the future of these children is now up in smoke. These children do not appreciate the effort of the grandparents to build them a school,” said an angry Chief Ndamase.

The pupils did not only vandalise the school but also looted the pantry where school feeding scheme groceries were kept.

Villagers used water to douse the fire which was started at about 10am. Firefighters from OR Tambo arrived shortly before 3pm after most of the fire was put out.

Police said no arrests had been made but a case of arson was opened.

Majali Technical High School at Majola near Port St Johns was torched in April by angry pupils demanding more classrooms.

Mthatha Technical High School was also vandalised – some classes were torched by pupils as well as a school vehicle.

Ndamase and the SGB leadership said they hoped to meet with the education department and pupils on Monday to ensure that learning and teaching resumed.

The school principal and education department could not be reached for comment yesterday. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za