The Western Cape Education Department says that all schools in the province will be closed on Tuesday due to severe weather conditions affecting parts of the province.
The decision was taken following consultations between the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service (SAWS), with authorities citing learner and teacher safety as the primary concern.
The closure applies to all public ordinary and special schools across the province.
“In the interests of learner and teacher safety, and after extensive consultation with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service (SAWS), a decision has been taken to close all schools in the Western Cape on Tuesday, 12 May 2026,” the Western Cape Education Department said in a statement on Monday.
According to the department, Disaster Management and SAWS recommended the closures based on updated weather projections 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,” the department said.
Authorities said the situation will continue to be monitored to allow schools to reopen as soon as conditions improve.
“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 2026,” the department said.
As of 13:30 on Monday, a total of 227 schools had applied for closure, in addition to schools already listed for closure in the Cape Winelands and Eden and Central Karoo districts.
The department also confirmed that a number of schools have suffered storm-related damage, which is currently being assessed.
Officials, school principals, teachers and parents were thanked for their cooperation in implementing the school closures.
The department also expressed appreciation to first responders, emergency services and disaster management officials assisting schools during the severe weather conditions. – SAnews.gov.za
