BRETTONWOOD High School is one of the many institutions that didn’t open on Tuesday, 19 April, after the Easter holidays.
This is because it was heavily flooded. It had mud from the gate and throughout the playground.
A total of 13 classes were flooded. Pupils went to school in casual clothes to help clean up.
Grade 12 pupil Farrid Twaolu (17) said the damage meant a delay in their learning.
“I’m so hurt about this. I had left some of my books in the class, and all of them were flooded. This means I now have to rewrite all my notes,” he said.
Another pupil Amahla Luthuli (17) said she was hoping that cleaning would be done soon.
“My wish is to get more help with the cleaning. Before I arrived at the school, I thought it wasn’t too bad. But now that I’ve seen the damage, I’m shocked and feel we need more help.”
School Governing Body chairman Thembinkosi Kunene said: “Thirteen classes won’t be available for the next two weeks, depending on when we will get help. We want to make sure our children come to a safe school.”
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga visited the school as she was in KZN to assess the flood damage in schools.
At least 630 schools were affected and 101 were not accessible. A total of 57 pupils, one teacher and one food handler have died, while five pupils are missing.
Motshekga said: “By the end of the week, we are hoping that all schools will be ready, depending on the damage. All those that could open today, did open.”
The minister said KZN MEC Kwazi Mshengu told her the plan for now was for pupils to go to neighbouring schools.
