The Bet-EL School for the Epileptic in Kalkfontein was set alight by land invaders on Monday afternoon.
Mandy Hendrieks, who stays at the school, says when she went to the shop on Monday morning she heard people planning to petrol-bomb the school.
“I heard people talking that they wanted to petrol-bomb the school and I quickly warned everyone and then called the police, despite their [police’s] quick response they carried on with their plan,” she says.
She says the protesters want to occupy the open land surrounding the school.
Principal Terence Nefdt said: “It is unfortunate that we are being victimised for issues that we don’t have control over.”
He said they will have to work with the department to repair the damage caused.
Spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department Bronagh Hammond said the administration section of the school was petrol-bombed.
Two hostels and the dining room are also damaged, as well as the roof of the admin building and the fence.
“It is unnecessary and uncaring to damage a school. Acts such as this does nothing for their cause, but affects the learners of their community,” Hammond said.
She said the cost of the damage was still being calculated.
Police spokesperson Colonel André Traut said: “A case of public violence has been opened and no one has been arrested as yet, the circumstances are being investigated.”
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