A fierce fire ravaged Kimberley’s historic Nazareth House at St Patrick’s CBC.
Image: Danie van der Lith
A DEVASTATING fire ripped through the historic Nazareth House at St Patrick’s CBC school in Kimberley in the early hours of Tuesday morning, leaving behind a charred shell of what was once a vital part of the school community.
The building, which serves as the boys’ and girls’ hostel, was engulfed in flames, prompting the emergency evacuation of all 48 boarders and staff.
Nazareth House, a well-known structure on the school grounds, has stood for decades as a place of care and later as accommodation for school pupils. Originally established as part of the outreach mission of the Sisters of Nazareth, the building has long been associated with nurturing, education, and spiritual formation in the Catholic tradition. Over the years, it has evolved from a convent-run facility into a bustling hostel that houses pupils from across the Northern Cape and beyond.
Early on Tuesday morning, St Patrick’s CBC sent out a WhatsApp message to parents and guardians, confirming the seriousness of the incident and reassuring them about the safety of the boarding house pupils and staff.
The message read:
“During the course of last night, a fire broke out in the boarding house at the school. All students and staff were evacuated and safely relocated. Unfortunately, the damage is extensive.
“In order for the school to assess the damage and begin the clean-up process, we have decided to close the school today, Tuesday, 6 May 2025, for all students and staff. Normal school will resume on Wednesday, 7 May 2025.
“While the damage to property is extensive, we are most grateful that there were no injuries. Our thoughts are with the boarders and boarding house staff who have lost much of their personal possessions. We will keep the school community updated on any further developments.”
The DFA visited the scene on Tuesday morning and witnessed firsthand the extensive destruction caused by the fire. The air still carried the acrid smell of smoke, and firefighters, along with emergency personnel, were present as investigators began combing through the wreckage to determine the cause of the blaze.
The roof of the building had collapsed in several areas, and personal belongings - clothing, bedding, schoolbooks, and electronics - were either reduced to ashes or drenched by firefighting efforts.
Blackened walls and broken windows bore testimony to the intensity of the inferno. Miraculously, due to swift action from staff and the implementation of emergency protocols, no injuries were reported.
Parents who arrived at the school on Tuesday morning to collect their children or offer support expressed relief at the safety of the pupils, though many were shaken by the scale of the loss.
One mother said, “I can’t imagine what the boarders are going through. Their school is their home during term time, and now they’ve lost almost everything.”
The school management has commended the calm and co-ordinated response of hostel staff and emergency services. Efforts are already under way to find temporary accommodation for boarders and to restore a sense of normalcy.
The principal of St Patrick’s CBC, Craig Neave, confirmed that 48 pupils were evacuated from the building and said that the rebuilding of the hostel will begin once damage assessments and logistics have been finalised.
The school will reopen on Wednesday, May 7, but for many, the impact of this disaster will linger.
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