The Western Cape MEC for Education David Maynier is conducting site visits to certain schools in the province that have been heavily affected by the severe weather conditions.

This includes Beaumont Primary School in Somerset West and Masifunde Primary School in Lwandle on Monday (11 May).

At Beaumont strong winds caused a big tree to be uprooted and eventually fall down. The tree caused extensive damage to parts of the school building and parked cars within the lot. In the process a supporter stand next to the school’s sport field was also left damaged by the wind, with roof sheets blown around.

“On the advice of the provincial disaster management centre and the South African Weather Service (SAWS) a decision has been taken to keep all schools in the Western Cape closed on Tuesday 12 May,” says Maynier.

“Disaster Management and the SAWS have made the recommendation based on an updated weather projection and current conditions. Our default position is always to keep schools open and only close schools in exceptional circumstances, but we are mindful of the severity of the warnings in place. We will continuously monitor and evaluate the situation to ensure that schools can reopen as soon as possible, which is currently expected to be on Wednesday 13 May.”

At Masifunde, Maynier said, they are observing some of the damage caused by the severe storms in the province.

“And it is precisely for that reason and in the interest of learner and educator safety that we have decided to close all schools in the Western Cape on 12 May.”

Furthermore, cellphone video footage shows how the gale-force winds tore off the roof of Hexpark Primary School in Worcester.

There are also reports that the roof of Breede River Senior Secondary in Worcester was torn off in the storm.

Damage was also caused to the roof of the residence of the National Institute for the Deaf – also in Worcester.

* This article will be updated as more reports are confirmed.