Mpumalanga’s MEC for Education, Cathy Dlamini, visited eMkhondo Local Municipality on November 11 to inspect schools impacted by severe storms the previous day. Despite the damage, the Department of Education (DoE) reported that exams proceeded smoothly on Monday, with learners from grades eight to 12 completing their assessments, including critical chemistry and technical science papers.

Some mobile classrooms and brick-and-mortar rooms at Piet Retief Combined School in the eMkhondo East Circuit suffered extensive damage, with roofs torn off by strong winds. Other affected schools included Ndlela Secondary School, where the kitchen and a mobile classroom sustained damage, and Hoërskool Piet Retief, where carports and a laundry roof were blown off. In eMkhondo West Circuit, the roof of a boys’ hostel was also destroyed.

Dlamini expressed relief that no lives were lost, and exams continued undisrupted. “We are hopeful our learners will persevere and perform well,” she said, urging the community to assist each other, as some learners’ homes were also affected by the storms.