Vhembe Executive Mayor Cllr Tshitereke Matibe has donated 100 chairs and R35 000 to William Themeli Secondary School.

The donation was handed to the school about two weeks ago, and came after the burning down of a classroom and the library early this month. According to Cllr Tshifhiwa Dali, Chief Whip of the Vhembe District Municipality, the school was torched in the early hours of 1 August. According to the information provided by the school management, the torching of the school happened after 20 of the 52 matriculants were not granted permission to go on a career guidance trip to Polokwane.

Dali said the management could not grant the pupils permission due to the short notice they received about the trip. The pupils were not happy to be told that the trip could not happen, unless it was applied for through the department 30 days in advance. However, their trip was applied for seven days before it was due to start.

Pupils staged protest marches and blocked the entrance to the school as a way of expressing their anger. A classroom and the library were burnt to ashes on the Sunday after the trip was taken. The damage caused by the fire is estimated at about R65 000, excluding the books and furniture.

The community, led by Khosi Vho-Ratshinyiwa Themeli, has contributed R30 000 for the renovation of school the and Themeli donated R3 000.

During the official handing over of the chairs, Matibe encouraged the pupils to study hard. He also announced that he was adopting the school and he will also make sure that everything that is needed for the benefit of learners will be provided. The mayor also pledged that a photocopier would be delivered to the school after he learnt that the school did not have one.