Western Cape schools close Tuesday amid severe flooding and storms

The Western Cape Education Department announced on Monday afternoon that all schools in the province will remain closed on Tuesday, 12 May, due to the relentless storms battering the region. Severe weather, characterized by heavy rain, flooding, and damaging winds, has prompted this decision. On Monday, numerous schools in the Cape Winelands, Eden, and Central Karoo districts had already been forced to close because of inundated roads, unsafe bridges, and storm-related damage to infrastructure. Additionally, learner transport services in the affected areas were suspended.

The province has been experiencing a prolonged severe weather event since the beginning of May. Initial school closures were issued on 6 and 7 May for parts of the Garden Route and the Karoo after the South African Weather Service warned of intense rainfall. A new weather system moved in on Monday, leading Education MEC David Maynier to order a province-wide shutdown. All public ordinary and special-needs schools in Circuits 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Cape Winelands district, which includes Worcester, Ceres, Rawsonville, Tulbagh, and the Hex River Valley, were ordered to close. Furthermore, an additional 11 schools in the Eden and Central Karoo districts remained inaccessible due to ongoing storm damage.

The South African Weather Service has issued a Level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall and flooding across a wide area of the Western Cape, including the City of Cape Town and its surrounding municipalities. Forecasts indicate that mountainous regions could receive between 200 mm and 300 mm of rain, with wind gusts of up to 120 km/h expected in parts of the Cape Winelands and Central Karoo. These severe conditions have rendered many roads impassable and raised concerns about the safety of students and staff.

The school closures come after the national government formally declared a disaster in response to the weather emergency. The Department of Cooperative Governance has reported multiple deaths, extensive damage to infrastructure, and disruptions to essential services in several provinces since 4 May. Parents and guardians are urged to stay informed through updates from the Western Cape Education Department and to contact their children’s schools directly for the latest information on reopening dates and transport arrangements. Education officials emphasize that the safety of learners and staff remains the top priority. As the weather system persists, authorities will continue to monitor conditions and provide further guidance as necessary.