MEC Ramakhanya check progress at storm-damaged schools
The Limpopo Department of Education MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya on Wednesday visited three schools to inspect storm damaged infrastructure ahead of the start of 2025 academic year.
The province has over 130 schools that were damaged by the storm in 2024 alone. Preliminary reports estimated the damage to be over R550 million. The tale of destruction has left some schools without roofs which may affect the start of the academic year.
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The MEC visited Gidjana Senior secondary school, Hoji senior primary school and Shingwedzi in Vhembe East. Lerule-Ramakhanya was monitoring the intervention currently underway to ensure that learners have proper classes when schools reopen next week.
The MEC has instructed her team to move swiftly in areas where minor repairs are needed and requested a relief in the form of mobile classes where the situation is severe.

PROGRESS AT THE STORM DAMAGED SCHOOLLS IN LIMPOPO AHEAD OF NEW ACADEMIC YEAR
“There should be accountability in making sure that this issue is sorted as it is urgent so that the 2025 academic year would not be affected,” said MEC Lerule-Ramakhanya.
Gidjana Senior secondary school has an enrolment of 393 learners and it’s also one of the best performing schools in the district. The severe storms that hit the area late last year. It left a trail of destruction, breaking windows, uprooted trees and left schools without roofs.
As it stands, Gidjana would not resume with learning and teaching when schools reopen next week without an intervention. The storeroom of the school was completely damaged and stationery needs to be replaced. Eight mobiles have so far been sought for the school and delivery has already started.
Hoji senior primary school has an enrolment of 185 learners from grade 5 to 7. Part of the school has since been fixed through the intervention of the school governing body.
Shingwedzi high school that was also affected by the storm has already commenced with the academic year 2025 and the MEC used the opportunity to motivate over 230 learners who are doing grade 12. She urged learners to do exceedingly well as she believed in their potential to invent something worthwhile because they are the future.