Schools in the Cape Winelands and Overberg education districts are closed due to a level 9 weather warning. Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier says that the second day of school closures will only apply to 281 schools in the Cape Winelands and 84 schools in the Overberg District.

He says that updated weather predictions from the South African Weather Service have indicated a continued risk in the Cape Winelands and Overberg areas, so out of an abundance of caution, we have extended the closure to a second day for these two districts only.

Yesterday schools in parts of the Western Cape affected 406 schools and nearly 270,000 learners.  

Gun Free SA proposed a bulletproof park for the Mitchells Plain area. The NGO wants to provide a safe area for families and a safe space from the gang shootings in the area. They reported that in 2022-23 alone, over 11 300 people were killed with a firearm in a 12-month period, with almost 10% of those deaths being gang-related, and many victims being young children shot by stray bullets.

Gun Free SA director Adele Kirsten says that Beacon Valley might get the first park. Twenty-four children will be allowed to play safely inside. The park will be equipped with security features like facial recognition, security cameras, and panic buttons to alert local police if criminals try to get into the park.  

Contracted educators lost their work from several schools this week in the Western Cape. Certain public schools are set to protest this week. The Western Cape Education Department is implementing this.

A protesting educator said the circular also states that no substitute posts will be made available for teachers who are on extended sick leave. A teacher says that this circular harshly affects all poor/working class and no-fee schools where the schools do not have the finances to take on School Governing Body teachers.

These schools to conduct protests include: Steenberg High School and Glendale Secondary School. WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says that the department faced a R870 million deficit.  

Listen to some facts from content creator and mentor: Darren Campher. 

On Sunday morning the Cape Winelands town of Stellenbosch was also not spared from tragic events as a 300-year-old Blaauwklippen Wine Estate was gutted in a fire. It is reported that the fire broke out at a neighbouring farm, resulting in the devastating destruction of some of the estate's buildings. Blaauwklippen Manor House is built on one of the oldest wine farms in Stellenbosch.

The fire was fuelled by the relentlessly strong gale-force winds in the Western Cape. According to Blaauwklippen management, the fire caused destruction to some of the Blaauwklippen Estate's iconic buildings. Ryno Jones, who was staying at a friend's house across from the Wine Estate. He woke up to the smell of smoke and saw the blaze. He says that the fire destroyed houses, roofs, trees and traffic robots. He says that it is a terrible situation and a total disaster.

Yesterday there was a full eclipse across North America. Festivals, viewing parties, and even a mass wedding took place. The Moon completely obscured the Sun’s light for up to a few minutes.

Pictures: MSN and gfsa.org

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