Thousands of parents across the Western Cape are scrambling to make emergency childcare plans tonight after the provincial government ordered the closure of all public schools as a deadly Level Eight storm continues to unleash flooding, dangerous winds, and widespread disruption across the province.
The Western Cape Government has taken the extraordinary step of shutting all public ordinary schools and special needs schools for Tuesday after severe weather conditions escalated dramatically on Monday, leaving roads flooded, communities cut off, emergency crews stretched, and at least one weather-related death reported in Cape Town.
The decision, announced late on Monday by the Western Cape Education Department, affects hundreds of thousands of learners, teachers, transport operators, and parents across the province as authorities race to protect lives while one of the most severe storm systems of the year continues to move across the south-western coastline.
Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier confirmed that all public schools would remain closed on Tuesday following consultations with disaster management officials, weather forecasters, transport authorities, and municipal emergency teams.
“The safety of learners, teachers, support staff, and school communities remains our highest priority,” Maynier said in the official statement.
“With dangerous road conditions, localised flooding, and continued severe weather expected, the responsible decision is to suspend normal schooling while conditions are assessed.”
The closure applies to both mainstream public schools and specialised learning institutions across the province.
Independent schools, however, are expected to communicate directly with parents regarding their own operational decisions.
The move follows an Orange Level Eight warning issued by the South African Weather Service, warning of disruptive rainfall, flash flooding, coastal storm surge, and damaging winds capable of exceeding 120 kilometres an hour in exposed areas.
Emergency management centres across the Cape Metro, Cape Winelands, Overberg, West Coast, and Garden Route districts remain on high alert as rivers rise, stormwater systems come under pressure, and several low-lying communities face growing flood risks.
Authorities have also confirmed at least one storm-related fatality in Kenilworth, where emergency responders were called to a weather-related incident as conditions rapidly deteriorated.
Motorists throughout Cape Town faced severe travel disruption on Monday, with flooded intersections reported in Bellville, Parow, Brackenfell, Kuils River, and parts of the southern suburbs, while strong swells battered sections of the Atlantic Seaboard.
Public transport services, including taxi routes and selected bus operations, also reported delays as operators monitored road safety conditions.
Parents across the province are now being urged to monitor official school communication channels, municipal emergency alerts, and verified government platforms for further updates.
Disaster officials say Tuesday’s closure may be reviewed depending on overnight rainfall, river levels, infrastructure damage, and updated weather forecasts.
For now, the message from provincial authorities is clear.
Stay home where possible, avoid unnecessary travel, and place safety ahead of routine as the Western Cape faces one of its toughest weather emergencies of the year.
Source: TimesLIVE – Yoliswa Sobuwa – Western Cape Education Department.
