WESTERN CAPE NEWS - Schools across the Western Cape are expected to reopen tomorrow, Wednesday 13 May, following days of storm-related disruptions, although some schools may remain closed where infrastructure damage or access problems persist.
The announcement was made by the Education Department (WCED) after the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service indicated that the conditions had improved sufficiently for schools to resume operations.
Certain exceptions
The department said the schools that are unable to reopen due to storm damage or unsafe access routes would need to apply for permission to remain closed, which will be approved on a case-by-case basis. The parents of affected schools will be informed directly should the closures be approved.
Principals have also been instructed to report any storm-related infrastructure damage to the department as soon as possible.
The reopening follows a week of severe weather across parts of the province that led to emergency school closures, uprooted trees, damaged buildings and dangerous travelling conditions in several towns, including George and the surrounding Garden Route areas.
The WCED thanked the schools’ staff, officials and parents for what it described as the smooth implementation of the closures during the severe weather conditions.
Special thanks were also extended to emergency services, disaster management officials and other stakeholders assisting the schools during the storm response.
At the same time, the department warned the public against the spreading of fake news and misinformation about school closures and storm updates.
According to the WCED, altered official graphics, forged signatures and AI-generated images have circulated widely on social media over the past week, creating confusion and placing additional pressure on officials managing the disaster response.
The department urged residents and parents to rely only on official WCED communication platforms, including its website and verified social media accounts, before sharing information online.
“The distribution of fake news takes time and resources away from supporting schools during severe weather events,” the department said in its statement.
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