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By Johnathan Paoli
More than 130 schools in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape have sustained severe damage following a wave of violent storms, strong winds and floods that have battered the provinces.
The unfolding crisis has disrupted learning for thousands of children and underscored long-standing infrastructure weaknesses in South Africa’s education system.
In KwaZulu-Natal, 68 schools across nine districts were reported damaged, with the Ugu District being the worst affected.
Thirty-eight schools in this coastal region suffered significant structural damage, including KwaMadlala Primary in Pietermaritzburg, where four children were injured when strong winds ripped off the school’s roof.
No fatalities have been recorded in the province so far.
The inclement weather, which included heavy rain, high winds, and even snowfall in some areas, left many families displaced and at least 80 homes with damaged roofs.
Eskom technicians and municipal teams are working around the clock to restore electricity and access routes, particularly in areas still grappling with poor road infrastructure.
KwaZulu-Natal education department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi confirmed that teams were still assessing the full extent of the damage.
“Some districts have sent us reports, but we are still collating information. By the end of the day, we hope to have a clearer picture of how many learners have been affected,” he said.
The storm’s impact on school infrastructure has led to the suspension of classes in some areas.
In KwaMadlala, community members have stepped in to salvage roof sheeting from destroyed buildings, pledging to begin repairs themselves if the government delays intervention.
Local residents said they did not want learning to stop for too long, beseeching the department to move faster in its recovery efforts.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi, praised the rapid response of disaster management teams but acknowledged that access and recovery efforts remain hampered by poor conditions.
“Our teams responded swiftly. We know the situation is challenging, but we are committed to restoring normalcy as quickly as possible,” he stated.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Cape, the aftermath of devastating floods has left more than 70 schools damaged and affected over 6,000 learners.
The province recorded 49 fatalities, some of them children swept away in a scholar transport minibus near Mthatha.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and confirmed that national resources were being mobilised to assist.
“We will work closely with the Eastern Cape Government and CoGTA over the coming days in order to make sure that we support our learners and educators during this disaster,” she said.
Eastern Cape education MEC Fundile Gade noted that the most affected regions include OR Tambo Coastal, Amathole East, and Alfred Nzo West.
“Some of these schools are not usable due to classroom damage, and alternatives must be explored. Despite the disruption, our use of controlled examination systems means that learners can still write exams in the coming weeks,” Gade explained.
The floods have reignited political tensions in the Eastern Cape, with the Economic Freedom Fighters calling for the provincial government to be placed under administration.
EFF provincial chairperson Zilindile Vena blamed officials for failing to invest in infrastructure.
“There was money for this infrastructure, yet it was not built or maintained. This disaster could have been prevented,” Vena charged.
The response to the storms also highlighted logistical challenges.
In KZN, the South African Scholar Transporters Association accused local taxi associations of extortion, claiming that taxi bosses in KwaDukuza demanded R3000 from legal operators to continue transporting learners.
Taxi council Santaco denied any knowledge of these payments and promised to investigate.
Across both provinces, the storms have disrupted not only physical infrastructure but also the education calendar, with mid-year exams underway.
While authorities in the Eastern Cape expressed confidence that alternative assessments can be implemented, there are concerns about delays in repair work, particularly in rural communities already burdened by poor service delivery.
Civil society organisations are urging the national government to prioritise long-term investment in education facilities that can withstand severe environmental conditions.
In the meantime, thousands of learners face uncertainty as their classrooms lie in ruin.
With more cold weather forecast in the coming days, both KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape authorities face mounting pressure to act swiftly, ensuring that learning continues despite the devastating toll of the storms.
