Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Suné Payne
Published on 2024-04-08 15:28:04
Schools in the Cape Winelands and Overberg district will remain closed on Tuesday 9 April due to the ongoing bad weather in the Western Cape. This follows school closures on Monday in some parts of the province. Heavy rains and strong winds over the weekend have caused chaos on roads and a fire in Fish Hoek on the Cape Peninsula destroyed several homes.
The Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier, confirmed the closure of schools for a second day on Monday afternoon. A total of 281 schools in the Cape Winelands district and 84 schools in the Overberg region will remain closed on Tuesday. The closure on Monday affected 406 schools and nearly 270,000 learners.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has reported storm damage at 132 schools, ranging from minor to serious. This number could increase as staff return to schools in the coming days. The higher education institutions like the Cape Peninsula University of Technology have shifted classes online and allowed some staff to work remotely.
Mop-up operations have commenced in many areas affected by the storm. The Garden Route district is expected to experience heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday. Western Cape Premier Alan Winde emphasized the government’s priority of ensuring resident safety during the severe storm and urged caution and avoidance of unnecessary travel.
Power outages were experienced in several towns, including the West Coast district, Lourensford, and Gordon’s Bay areas due to the weather conditions. Eskom reported minor structural damage to the electricity network, leading to a loss of supply in various areas. Beaufort West, Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha, Klawer, and surrounding farms, among others, were affected by the power outages.
Some road closures are still in effect due to the storm. Clarence Drive between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els, Buffeljagsrivier bridge, and DR1484 in the Central Karoo district municipality remain closed. Chapman’s Peak Drive in the City of Cape Town has yet to reopen, and ongoing work on a burst pipe has closed Hout Bay Main Road between Disa River Road and OR Tambo.
Gift of the Givers announced that teams would be deployed to assist in various areas of the province that have been heavily affected by the storm. These areas include Nkanini Khayelitsha, Nomzamo, Lwandle, Sir Lowry Pass Village, Strand, Grabow, Smartie Town Paarl, and many more.
The Western Cape continues to face challenges brought on by the severe weather conditions, with schools remaining closed, road closures in effect, and power outages affecting various areas. Authorities are working diligently to address the aftermath of the storm and ensure the safety of residents.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
