Destructive Winds Damage Over 20 North West Schools

The disaster arrives while the North West Department of Education is actively managing the aftermath of recent fires that destroyed three other schools in the region.

The storm damage spans multiple municipal areas, with significant impact recorded across the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, including major hubs such as Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp. Among the affected facilities in Potchefstroom are Promosa Primary School and Promosa Secondary School, along with Pudulogo Primary School and Boitshoko Secondary School in Ikageng Township. In the Klerksdorp area, Laerskool Saamtrek, Noordwal Primary School in Orkney, and Tshedimosetso Secondary School in Jouberton Township sustained damage. Additional affected facilities within the district include Toevlug Primary School in Ventersdorp, Maitemogelo Secondary School and Sentlhaga Primary School in Wolmaranstad, as well as Gatelapele Secondary School and Tigane Primary School in Tigane Township.

Beyond the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, the weather system impacted educational facilities across three other districts in the province:

• Ngaka Modiri Molema District: Damage was recorded at Thuto ke Matla Secondary School in Groot Marico, Setilo Secondary School in Mareetsane Village, alongside Refentse Primary School and Serite Early Learning Centre in Ga-Khunwana Village.

• Bojanala District: Schools reporting infrastructure loss include SG Ntuane Primary School in Tlhatlhaganyane Village, Rantlaka Primary School in Phalane Village, and both Nonceba Primary School and Motshabaesi Primary School in the Madikwe area.

• Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District: Impacted sites include Kokomeng Primary School and Walter Letsie Secondary School near Taung, together with Raditshipi Primary School, Thapama Secondary School, Choseng Secondary School, and Reabetswe Secondary School.

North West MEC for Education, Dr Desbo Mohono, confirmed that the department's immediate priority is assessing structural damage, ensuring safety, and mitigating disruptions to classroom activities. Disaster management teams and departmental infrastructure inspectors are deploying to affected sites to formulate emergency intervention plans. Education officials noted that the total count of damaged facilities is anticipated to rise as school principals conduct site assessments and submit formal status reports.

#NorthWest #SchoolInfrastructure #Potchefstroom #Klerksdorp 

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