Wind damage hits school infrastructure across the North West
Strong, destructive winds between Friday and Saturday damaged roofs and destroyed mobile classrooms at more than 20 schools across the North West, the provincial Department of Education said. The damage compounds already strained school infrastructure in the province after recent fires at three schools.
The department has dispatched assessors and is coordinating with disaster management teams and other stakeholders to determine the full scale of the damage and to arrange emergency interventions, it said. Officials warned the number of affected schools could rise once all assessments are complete.
“We are working closely with relevant stakeholders and disaster management teams to respond to the affected schools and ensure that the necessary interventions are implemented as urgently as possible,” Education MEC Dr Desbo Mohono said.
Education spokesperson Elias Malindi said the incidents increase pressure on the department’s infrastructure budget and planning. The damage has affected both permanent structures and mobile classrooms, the latter of which are often used to house learners while long-term repairs are arranged.
The department provided a preliminary list of 25 affected schools, spread across the province’s four education districts. The list includes primary, secondary and early childhood development centres in urban and rural areas.
- Ngaka Modiri Molema: Thuto ke Matla Secondary (Groot Marico); Setilo Secondary (Mareetsane Village); Refentse Primary and Serite Early Learning Centre (Ga‑Khunwana Village).
- Dr Kenneth Kaunda: Pudulogo Primary (Ikageng); Maitemogelo Secondary (Wolmaransstad); Noordwal Primary (Orkney); Tshedimosetso Secondary (Jouberton); Toevlug Primary (Ventersdorp); Sentlhaga Primary (Wolmaransstad); Laerskool Saamtrek (Klerksdorp); Promosa Primary and Promosa Secondary (Potchefstroom); Boitshoko Secondary (Ikageng); Gatelapele Secondary and Tigane Primary (Tigane).
- Bojanala: SG Ntuane Primary (Tlhatlhaganyane Village); Rantlaka Primary (Phalane Village); Nonceba Primary (Welverdiend near Madikwe); Motshabaesi Primary (Obakeng Village near Madikwe).
- Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati: Kokomeng Primary (Kokomeng Village, Taung); Walter Letsie Secondary (Manthe, near Taung); Raditshipi Primary; Thapama Secondary; Choseng Secondary.
| Education district | Schools listed |
|---|---|
| Ngaka Modiri Molema | 4 |
| Dr Kenneth Kaunda | 12 |
| Bojanala | 4 |
| Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati | 5 |
| Total listed | 25 |
Mobile classrooms are a common stop‑gap where permanent classrooms are full or awaiting repairs. When mobile units are destroyed, learners may be left without shelter from rain and wind, which can disrupt teaching and learning and increase safety risks.
School communities face the immediate task of safeguarding learners and preserving teaching time. The department has said it will implement interventions “as urgently as possible”, but did not provide a timeline for repairs or temporary accommodation for affected classes.
Community representatives and school governing bodies will be central to short‑term responses, arranging safe alternative venues where possible and communicating with parents about attendance and exam preparation. Parents are advised to stay in contact with their schools and district offices for updates on closures, transport arrangements and catch‑up plans.
Beyond temporary repairs, the incidents underline persistent challenges in the province: ageing infrastructure, limited maintenance budgets and the logistical difficulty of servicing remote schools. The department’s spokesperson noted the added burden following recent fires, which have already strained resources.
Disaster management teams remain on alert for further weather‑related incidents, and the department said it will continue to work with municipal and provincial agencies to coordinate funding, materials and labour for rebuilding where necessary.
For now, learners, educators and parents across the affected communities are awaiting full assessments so that repairs can be prioritised and classes returned to safer, weather‑proof classrooms.
