07/09/2026
STRONG WINDS DAMAGE HOMES AND MORE THAN 20 SCHOOLS ACROSS NORTH WEST
NORTH WEST – 7 September 2026: Strong winds and heavy rainfall have damaged private and public property across several parts of the North West, with more than 20 schools reporting damage between Friday and Saturday.
According to the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the roofs of 10 houses were blown away in different villages in Ratlou Local Municipality, while four houses were affected in Tswelelang township in Maquassi Hills Local Municipality. A number of other homes were also damaged in Motlhabane, Motangwaneng, Witranjie, Obakeng and Molatedi in the Bojanala Platinum District.
Public facilities affected include Walter Letsie Primary School in Greater Taung, Ikgomotseng Primary School in Mamusa, Boitumelong Clinic in Lekwa-Teemane and Mogoditshane School in Moses Kotane Local Municipality. CoGTA said provincial, district and local disaster management teams had been activated and were conducting assessments to establish the full extent of the damage.
The North West Department of Education separately reported that strong and destructive winds damaged roofs and destroyed mobile classrooms at more than 20 schools across the province. The department said the damage had placed additional pressure on its already strained infrastructure, following recent fires that affected three schools.
The affected schools are spread across the Ngaka Modiri Molema, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Bojanala Platinum and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati districts. In the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, the department listed Kokomeng Primary School in Kokomeng Village and several schools in the Taung area, including Walter Letsie Secondary School in Manthe, Raditshipi Primary School, Thapama Secondary School, Choseng Secondary School and Reabetswe Secondary School.
MEC for Education Dr Desbo Mohono expressed concern over the extent of the damage, saying the storms had come at a difficult time for the department as it continues responding to schools affected by fires.
"Our immediate priority is to assess the extent of the damage, ensure the safety of learners and educators, and put measures in place to minimise disruptions to teaching and learning," Mohono said.
She added that the department was working with relevant stakeholders and disaster management teams to respond to the affected schools and implement urgent interventions.
CoGTA said disaster management teams were also coordinating interventions and humanitarian relief for affected communities with provincial departments and stakeholders, including the Department of Social Development and SASSA.
The Department of Education said its infrastructure teams would be dispatched to assess the damage and determine alternative measures to prevent disruptions to teaching and learning. It warned that the number of affected schools could increase as principals report additional damage when they return to their schools.
CoGTA has urged residents to remain vigilant, monitor official weather updates, avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather and move to safer locations if their homes or structures become vulnerable to strong winds.
