The Department of Education in KwaZulu Natal has deployed more than 175 mobile classrooms at the 59 schools which were destroyed by the recent floods.

It is reported that 28 of the affected schools are in Umkhanyakude Dictrict in the far north of KZN. SADTU spokesperson, Nomarashiya Caluza, said that they have been informed about schools in Uthukela and Umzinyathi district that were badly damaged due to the heavy rains that hit KZN. We have also been told that the department of education has a plan in place to make sure that the reopening of schools goes smoothly," she said. Caluza further said that Ladysmith and Dundee had the highest number of schools that were affected by the floods. "This is because of the heavy rains that hit KZN in December and January. This will mean they have to provide temporary classes and some students must be moved to other schools in the area while they are fixing those schools," she said.

KZN Department of Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi confirmed that there are schools that were badly damaged. "The Department of Education in KZN is still assessing the damage caused by inclement weather in schools across the province. Almost 60 schools have been damaged by the recent heavy rains in the province. We have our infrastructure team on the ground assessing the damage that may have been done by the floods," Mhlambi said.

Mhlambi added that they will be providing mobile classrooms to those schools that were badly affected. "For now, chances to delay school from re-opening are zero. We have deployed more than 175 mobile classrooms to these schools where they are needed and, in some instances, we made minor repairs to schools which were partially damaged. We are optimistic that we will have a smooth start but with some glitches. We don't anticipate schools that will not be opened on Wednesday," he added. The recent floods that caused havoc in KZN over the weekend saw 11 people losing their lives after they were swept away in Durban, Tongaat and Umzimkhulu in the far north of KZN.