KwaZulu-Natal schools have been instructed to close shop and send pupils home on the first day of the school year as torrential rains continue to batter the province.
"The head of department issued a circular to close early due to the weather warnings we have received from weather services. We have done this so all teachers and pupils can be safe," KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said on Wednesday.
The South African Weather Service issued an Orange Level 5 warning for disruptive rainfall that could lead to widespread flooding of roads and settlements, damage to mud-based houses and displacement of communities along the coast and northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.