BREAKING: Severe weather prompts closure of all Western Cape schools on May 12
City officials are attempting to clear all incidents reported.
Image: Supplied
Western Cape MEC of Education David Maynier has announced the closure of all schools across the province for Tuesday, May 12, 2026, prioritising learner and teacher safety amidst severe weather warnings.
The decision, released immediately on Monday, May 11, 2026, applies to all public ordinary and special schools in the Western Cape. It was made following extensive consultation with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service (SAWS), who recommended the closure based on updated weather projections and current conditions.
Maynier emphasised that the default position is always to keep schools open, but they are "mindful of the severity of the warnings in place". The closures are currently expected to last for one day, with schools anticipated to reopen on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
"We will continuously monitor and evaluate the situation to ensure that schools can reopen as soon as possible," Maynier said.
As of 13:30 on Monday, 227 schools had already applied for closure, supplementing the closure list previously issued for the Cape Winelands, Eden, and Central Karoo districts. "A number of schools have also suffered damage due to the storm, which is currently being assessed. Thank you to the officials, principals, teachers and parents for the support in implementing school closures. And thank you to the first responders, emergency services and disaster management officials who continue to support our schools during the severe weather conditions," Maynier said.