A storm almost wiped out Seatides Combined School. Picture: DOCTOR NGCOBO/Independent Newspapers
Durban — Seatides Combined School Grade 12 pupils will be accommodated at Anton Lembede Mathematics, Science & Technology Academy (Anton Lembede MST Academy), and mobile classrooms have been delivered to the oThongathi school after a tornado left it damaged.
On Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka and department head Nkosinathi Ngcobo conducted a site visit at the school.
The two were accompanied by top management to inspect the storm-damaged school.
The department said it was announced that Grade 12 pupils will be accommodated at Anton Lembede MST Academy, while the school is being repaired. This will ensure pupils get curriculum support, especially for subjects requiring specialist classrooms.
Additionally, mobile classrooms were delivered by the department to the school to ensure that teaching and learning were not affected at the beginning of the third term on Tuesday, July 9.
Ngcobo motivated pupils to stay focused despite the school’s condition.
Hlomuka echoed Ngcobo’s sentiments.
"Your future is important. We want to see all of you achieve great results. We are here to support you and wish you well as you commence the first day of the third term,” Hlomuka said.
“I am very pleased with the smooth start of the first day of the third term in all our schools throughout the province of KwaZulu-Natal.”
The storm which affected several communities on the KZN North Coast also almost obliterated Seatides Combined School in Seatides.
Last month, the provincial government said 18 schools were damaged.
The storm did not spare the houses leading up to Seatides Combined School.
A Daily News team visited the school after the storm and was greeted by an almost uprooted signage board with the school’s name on it. Danger tape was also tied between two poles where the fence had been damaged.
The school was strewn with trees, leaves, branches, benches, concrete, bins, corrugated iron and other materials.
Some corridors from one block to another had their coverings blown away. Some were scattered on the ground.
The more the team explored, the more damage it saw.
The top floors of the blocks had parts of the roof blown away. One of the classrooms had its door blown off, and there was a pool of water on the floor.
Piles of corrugated iron and poles were seen on what appeared to be a parking area, piled on a vehicle that was partially covered by the materials.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, a KZN Education delegation will visit Thambalala High School in Jozini, in the uMkhanyakude District, to assess the storm damage and plan the necessary steps required for recovery.
“We are committed to ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment for our learners and staff,” Hlomuka said.
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