A 72-year-old woman has died at their farm in the Thornhill area outside Port Elizabeth that is being devastated by a run-away fire on Saturday.
Police spokesperson, Captain Gerda Swart, said that the woman’s husband was admitted to hospital with burn wounds.
“Police have opened an inquest docket,” she said.
The Municipality confirmed Saturday evening that "50%" of the school had been destroyed.
The "Reception hall, main hall, some of the hostels, school church, junior classrooms, music school and some teacher residences have burnt down," the Metro said in an update Saturday night.
Spokesperson, Mthubanzi Mniki, said that "fire and emergency teams were on site trying to save the remaining buildings while at the same time working on other surrounding areas."
Meanwhile, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has made a call for additional water tankers to be brought to Woodridge College where fire-fighters continue to battle a fire that has destroyed parts of the school.
The Metro’s head of Safety and Security John Best, said that while there is water on the property they’re anticipating that they will need additional water to fight the blaze that had caused “significant” damage to the College.
He said the water pressure is low as there is no power in the area.
Helicopters were used late in the afternoon when the wind died down.
Writing on his Facebook page, executive mayor, Athol Trollip, said that “a sudden gale force wind and a change of direction put our fire teams under intense pressure” for several hours.
“Despite this, our firefighter heroes managed to save tens of homes in Schoenmakerskop. Sadly, we lost a home in Van Stadens and part of Woodridge School,” Trollip said.
The mayor said “without the tireless work of our fire teams, the damage here could have been so much worse.”
“Part of the electricity network was shut down for safety reasons. This will be restored in due course,”Trollip said.
He said no injuries or fatalities have been reported.
