Cape Town – The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education, Mr Sipho Hlomuka, has strongly condemned the shocking burning and vandalism of school property at Mpolweni Secondary School in the uMgungundlovu District.
Parts of the school were reportedly set alight, and several classrooms and offices were forcibly broken into and damaged.
Hlomuka described the incident as a “criminal and cowardly attack” on the pupils of the school, emphasizing that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
Despite the damage, teaching and learning at the school were not disrupted, and the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations will continue as scheduled.
MEC HLOMUKA CONDEMNS THE BURNING AND VANDALISM OF SCHOOL PROPERTY AT MPOLWENI SECONDARY SCHOOL
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education, Mr Sipho Hlomuka, has issued a stern condemnation following the
shocking act of arson and vandalism at Mpolweni Secondary School in the… pic.twitter.com/exTypPkVPO— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) November 5, 2025
“This is a disgraceful and deliberate attack on the education of our children. For anyone to burn and vandalise a school—especially during the NSC examinations—shows a shocking level of criminality and disregard for our learners’ future.
“This is an act of sabotage that robs learners of the limited resources available to them and drains the Department’s already stretched budget. We will not allow thugs to hold our education system hostage,” said MEC Hlomuka.
MEC Sipho Hlomuka Condemns the Burning and Vandalism of School Property at Mpolweni Secondary School pic.twitter.com/S8JLY1hjeA
— KZN Education (@DBE_KZN) November 5, 2025
He confirmed that law enforcement agencies have been tasked with prioritising the investigation, and that the perpetrators will face severe consequences, including criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
The MEC also stated that the Department will be strengthening security measures at schools and enhancing collaboration with the SAPS and Community Policing Forums to protect educational institutions from criminal activity.
Hlomuka further called on parents, community leaders, traditional authorities, and residents to take a firm stand against those who vandalise schools and to help identify individuals involved in criminal acts targeting educational infrastructure.
“Communities must stop shielding criminals. If you know who did this and you keep quiet, you are equally responsible for destroying the future of our children,” concluded MEC Hlomuka.
Matric learners at Mpolweni Secondary School in the uMgungundlovu District were forced to continue their final examinations under distressing circumstances after parts of their school were set alight and vandalised.@News24 pic.twitter.com/uyo9w9NrpA
— Sakhiseni Nxumalo (@SakhiNxumalo) November 5, 2025
Matric learners at Mpolweni Secondary School were forced to continue their final examinations under distressing circumstances after parts of the school were set alight and vandalised.
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Picture: X/@SakhiNxumalo
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Compiled by Anda Tolibadi
