The Gauteng Education Department says it cannot afford to have a security person at each and every school after it emerged that there were no security personnel at Riverlea High School where 11 classrooms and several toilets were gutted by fire over the weekend.

Locals say they saw people at the school before the fire started.

About 280 Grade 8 learners, whose four classrooms are among those burnt, will be temporarily accommodated in the school hall.

Gauteng Education Department spokesperson Steve Mabona says budget does not allow them to have security in all schools.

“That is why we normally target schools that are in high-risk areas where there is prevalent criminality. There’s violence perpetrated by some violent gangs or learners or the community. But it is not sustainable that we have security in all our schools,” says Mabona.

Video | Eleven classrooms burnt down at Riverlea High School