All schools in the Western Cape will be closed on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, due to severe weather conditions affecting the province.
Western Cape Education Minister David Maynier said the decision was taken in consultation with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service after updated weather projections and current storm conditions raised concerns about the safety of learners and teachers.
The closure includes all public ordinary and special schools across the province. According to the department, schools are expected to reopen on Wednesday, 13 May, if conditions improve.
Maynier said the department’s default position is to keep schools open and that closures are only implemented under exceptional circumstances.
By 13:30 on Monday, a total of 227 schools had already applied for closure, in addition to schools previously closed in the Cape Winelands and Eden and Central Karoo districts. Authorities are also assessing storm-related damage reported at several schools.
The minister thanked officials, principals, teachers, parents, emergency services and disaster management teams for their support during the severe weather conditions.
Western Cape Education Minister David Maynier said the decision was taken in consultation with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service after updated weather projections and current storm conditions raised concerns about the safety of learners and teachers.
The closure includes all public ordinary and special schools across the province. According to the department, schools are expected to reopen on Wednesday, 13 May, if conditions improve.
Maynier said the department’s default position is to keep schools open and that closures are only implemented under exceptional circumstances.
By 13:30 on Monday, a total of 227 schools had already applied for closure, in addition to schools previously closed in the Cape Winelands and Eden and Central Karoo districts. Authorities are also assessing storm-related damage reported at several schools.
The minister thanked officials, principals, teachers, parents, emergency services and disaster management teams for their support during the severe weather conditions.