Learning suspended as storm claims Wentworth classroom wall, ceiling

Grade 7s are now taking classes at the Austerville community hall.

COLLINGWOOD Primary School’s fortunes have taken a dive since 16 September, with the school bearing the brunt of two storms that have caused major damage to the building, forcing its closure.

Pupils have been told to stay away from school until all the repairs are done and grade 7s are now taking classes at the Austerville community hall.

Loretta Hughes, chairman of the school governing body, said the second disaster to strike the school was this week’s deluge on Tuesday, 10 October. The first challenge was the damage caused by the storm on 16 September, which damaged at least six classrooms and ripped the roof off at Collingwood Primary. This week’s storm ravaged the building again, this time claiming a wall of a grade 7 class and destroying more property.

“Fortunately, because of the disaster on September 16, school was already closed and by the time the second storm hit, there were no pupils on the premises. We could have lost lives as the wall which was ripped from the classroom could have injured the pupils. Parts of the ceiling were also torn away. The new playground for the younger ones was destroyed as well,” she said.

Other schools in the area, including Durban East Primary, Mowat Park High and Bushlands Primary were also damaged during the storm.