By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Lebogang Maile, will on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, visit the Riverlea Secondary School following a devastating fire that took place on Tuesday, 7 April 2026 and destroyed an entire classroom block at the school.
This latest fire comes at a critical time when schools will be reopening on Wednesday, 8 April.
This is the same school where 11 classrooms were damaged in a blaze on 27 April 2025, just six days before schools were set to reopen for the second term.
The Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said firefighters responded to the fire incident at about 7:26pm.
“Emergency Management Services (EMS) firefighters responded to a fire incident at Riverlea Secondary School. The fire affected three classrooms, a laboratory, and the school library.”
Khumalo said the cause of the fire is undetermined and will be investigated.
Community leader Theo Doyle has condemned the incident.
“This cannot be a norm,” we can’t keep destroying our community facilities. It is unacceptable and we need to make an example with the perpetrators,” he warned.
Doyle said the details surrounding the fire is unknown but confirms that it the school has been severely damaged.
Riverlea Secondary School serves hundreds of learners from the Riverlea community and surrounding areas in Johannesburg. The destruction of classrooms, a laboratory and the library will disrupt teaching and learning, especially with the new term approaching.