Photo by (David Harrison | groundup.org.za)
The Western Cape Provincial Government has announced that all public and special schools in the province will close on Tuesday, 12 May, due to severe storms.
The decision was made for the safety of learners and teachers following consultations with disaster management officials and the weather service.
The Western Cape Provincial Government says that “based on updated guidance from the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service, all schools in the Western Cape will be open on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.”
However, officials noted that “there may be schools that need to remain closed due to infrastructure damage or access challenges caused by the storm,” adding that closures will be handled “on a case-by-case-basis.” The government also stated that “any schools approved for closure will communicate directly with parents.”
Meanwhile, principals “have been asked to report any infrastructure damage to the department as soon as possible.” The province further thanked “school staff, officials and parents for the smooth implementation of the closures over the past week.”
A “special thank you” was also extended to “emergency services, disaster management officials, and all stakeholders who continue to support our schools in these circumstances.”
