BY LERATO PHOSISI
A fire swept through a local creche on Saturday, 17 May 2026, gutting classrooms and learning materials while leaving nearby homes untouched.
According to owner Connie Lekale, she first noticed smoke from outside and rushed inside to find the rooms already engulfed in flames. With no immediate assistance available, she began fighting the blaze with buckets of water. Neighbors responded quickly to her call and helped with more water until emergency services arrived.
Lekale said she did not realize at the time how much smoke she had inhaled. After stepping outside, she collapsed. “By the grace of God, I later managed to wake up and I am recovering,” she said.
Preliminary reports indicate that an electrical fault in the main switch box is the likely cause of the fire.
“The entire rooms were already on fire,” Lekale said. “Most of my clothes and my sons’ belongings got burned because his room is also linked to the creche.”
Inside the facility, chairs, toys, books, charts, and other educational materials were destroyed. Although the fire did not spread to Lekale’s home or neighboring houses, the damage has left the creche inoperable, leaving dozens of young children without access to care and early learning.
“I don’t know what to do from here,” Lekale said, appealing to donors and sponsors to assist with rebuilding the creche and replacing lost equipment.
Community members say the creche has long provided vital early childhood education and childcare for working families in the area. Restoration efforts will depend on public support, with calls growing for contributions to help restore the center and its services.
