Cape Town — Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier, has confirmed that more than 130 schools and over 270 000 pupils were affected by the devastating storm that hit the province.
Maynier also said that 281 schools in the Cape Winelands and 84 schools Overberg districts will remain closed on Tuesday 9 April, while schools in Helderberg will be re-opened again, a department statement said.
“There may be schools outside of these districts that request closure due to severe infrastructure damage or inaccessibility. This will be considered by the Department on a case-by-case basis through the normal procedures for requesting school closure. Schools with the necessary permission to close will communicate directly with parents.” Maynier said.
Maynier confirmed that 132 schools were affected by the storms, with infrastructure damage ranging from serious to minor, with the total expected to rise in the comigns days once staff return to school.
Schools in the Cape Winelands and Overberg education districts will remain closed on Tuesday, 9 April 2024.
Schools in the Helderberg area will be open.
Read more here: https://t.co/ZqvE3b3eQw pic.twitter.com/aatr5dyTjx
— David Maynier (@DavidMaynier) April 8, 2024
Maynier, said the decision to keep schools closed was based on an advisory from the South African Weather Service (SAWS), EWN reported.
“Schools outside of these districts that request closure due to severe infrastructure damage or inaccessibility. This will be considered by the department on a case-by-case basis through the normal procedures for requesting school closure. Schools with the necessary permission to close will communicate directly with parents.” he added.
Meanwhile, the SAWS issued a yellow level 4 warning for the Western Cape on Tuesday with strong winds and rainfall in parts of the province, according to SABC News.
“We still have that cut-off low-pressure system which is expected to continue bringing rain over the eastern parts of the Western Cape including the eastern parts of the Overberg in the morning, with a total expected to range between 20 to 40 millimetres.”
“However, rainfall of up to 60 millimetres of rainfall expected in the extreme eastern parts of the Garden Route including George, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay.” Forecaster, Phistos Mathebula, said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
