“SA Kids, Man”: Learners Burn School Furniture in Alexandra to Stay Warm, Gauteng MEC Condemns Act

• Learners at Eastbank High School in Alexandra allegedly set fire to old furniture inside a classroom on 11 August 2026
• Pupils reportedly said broken windows and no heating left them unable to cope with the bitter cold snap that hit Gauteng
• Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile condemned the burning and called on communities to protect school infrastructure

Learners at Eastbank High School in Alexandra, Gauteng, allegedly burned old classroom furniture on 11 August 2026. The incident forced pupils to be sent home early and drew sharp condemnation from provincial authorities.

Twitter user @EversonLuhanga shared footage of flames burning inside what appeared to be an enclosed classroom space. According to the post, pupils said they resorted to the act because of broken windows that left classrooms exposed to the elements, alongside damaged infrastructure and recurring electricity cuts that made conditions inside the school unbearable. Briefly News could not independently verify these claims at the time of publication.

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Cold snap grips Gauteng schools

South Africa has been battered by freezing temperatures and snowfall since 10 August 2026. Despite the extreme weather, Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile confirmed that schools would remain open and continue operating as normal. He urged learners and teachers who could travel safely to attend school, stating that cold weather alone should not be a reason to disrupt teaching and learning.

MEC Maile condemns the Eastbank incident

In a media statement issued on 12 August 2026, MEC Maile strongly condemned what happened at Eastbank High School. He called on learners, parents and communities to protect education infrastructure rather than destroy it, warning that burning school property only deepened the very problems learners were complaining about.

See the classroom fire at Eastbank High Schoolon X below:

Mzansi reacts to the Alexandra school fire

South Africans on X were divided, with some expressing frustration at the state of school infrastructure and others condemning the learners outright:

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@AyrtonAlferes commented:

“I thought it would take longer for people to show their true colours. 😂 First protesting against foreign students, now learners are burning their own schools because they’re cold, while schools have broken windows and failing infrastructure. Make it make sense. 🤦🏿‍♂️"

@IrepTriplep said:

“Government must make a plan for kids. Why are we paying so much in taxes if basic things like heaters aren't installed in classrooms so kids can learn properly on days like this? All they know is gifting illegal foreigners our tax money.”

@TheGeopol:

“Send those EFF minions to juvenile.”

More stories coming out of Alex

• A schoolboy from Alexandra has been performing a crate dance on busy Joburg roads for four and a half years, earning real money from South Africans who stop to watch.
• More than 800 learners at Zenzeleni Primary School received eye and dental screenings through Black Coffee Foundation’s latest outreach.
• Musician and activist Ntsiki Mazwai announced her mayoral campaign for Alexandra township.

Source: Briefly News