The area, which is prone to flooding, left many homes and other buildings, including schools, damaged. According to SABC’s reports, community members of that area were cut off from main routes after two bridges were washed away. Whilst monitoring the progress of matric exams at the JM Lekgetha Commercial High School in Lichtenburg, which is one of the schools affected by a hail storm over the weekend, Education MEC Mmaphefo Matsemela said that she was pleased by the fact that the storm did not affect the centre where learners are writing exams, despite the damages at the school.

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“The storm caused great damage at this school and I believe that all the necessary people are right here with me today. Yesterday we held a meeting as the Department of Education and we have a plan that starts from today, as to what is supposed to be done at all the schools that are affected,” said Matsemela.

Matsemela further said that the matric exams have progressed well since the beginning of exams and all writing centers are ready at all the schools.

“We have 48 000 learners writing this examination – part-time and full-time learners. Above all, in the North West province, papers have been stored in a safe place and we have SAPS to assist us with our entire team to ensure that papers are safe whenever they are collected,” she adds.

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Matsemela also adds that they have been encouraging matric learners to work hard and came up with the slogan “No child is left behind”.

She reiterated that all systems are in place for matric exams. Matsemela further said that she hopes that load-shedding does not affect the education system in the province, especially during the exams.

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