Western Cape Schools Extend Closure In Cape Winelands, Overberg

The Western Cape Education Department decided to keep schools in the Cape Winelands and Overberg districts closed until Friday. This decision came after a meeting with the Provincial Disaster Risk Management (PDRM).

Meanwhile, schools in other districts including Cape Town, the West Coast, Eden and Central Karoo will reopen from Friday onwards. However, schools in these areas will require approval from the Head of Department to reopen.

Western Cape MEC for Education David Maynier said, "This decision is based on the interests of learner and teacher safety in the Overberg and Cape Winelands Education Districts, particularly with regard to traveling to and from schools," SA News reported.

Heavy rainfall led to extensive road damage and flooding, disrupting school transportation routes and forcing many schools to close. The provincial department mentioned reports of flood damage affecting school buildings.

These schools are scheduled to reopen on July 15 unless there are further updates. The department noted that 217 schools throughout the province have reported damage to their infrastructure or disruptions due to the recent events.

The Western Cape MEC mentioned that heavy rains and strong winds overnight contributed to the situation. Out of the reported cases, 86 are considered serious and are receiving immediate attention from infrastructure teams.

Maynier expressed gratitude for the dedication of these teams working under challenging conditions, thanking school principals and their teams for supporting the decision to close schools in affected districts.

He took a moment to appreciate the support from parents and caregivers during this time, emphasizing that closing schools is a serious decision made for the well-being of students and teachers.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a level 8 warning for disruptive rain. The Western Cape Government (WCG) confirmed that this warning remains in effect for heavy rain, flooding and mudslides, especially in the Cape Town metro, Drakenstein and Stellenbosch regions.

Parents are requested to use Western Cape's official website and check the "Find My School" page to confirm if their school falls under these two districts where the schools will remain closed.