North West Primary School Shuts Down After Ceiling Collapse During Class, Parents Demand Repairs

• A primary school in the North West temporarily closed after the ceiling allegedly collapsed during class
• Parents demand urgent repairs as local schools suffer from storm damage and insufficient maintenance
• The North West Education Department acknowledged funding constraints while promising emergency assessments for safety improvements

Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.

NORTH WEST - Logaga Primary School has temporarily closed after part of a classroom ceiling collapsed during a lesson. The incident occurred following recent heavy storms, which local residents say worsened the condition of the aging building.

Ceiling collapsed during a lesson

According to Central News, no injuries were reported, but eyewitnesses described the collapse as alarming, with debris falling near learners. The school, constructed in the 1970s, has long faced structural problems, including leaking roofs, unstable ceilings, and deteriorating walls. Community members said repeated complaints over the past 15 years have largely gone unaddressed. The closure affects hundreds of learners. Nearby Bapong Primary School also sustained storm damage, with parts of its roof and ceilings failing. Parents at both schools have kept children at home until authorities ensure the buildings are safe.

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Parents and local leaders gathered outside Logaga Primary, demanding urgent repairs. One parent said they would not return children to the school until proper fixes were made, noting that the school has served multiple generations and patchwork solutions are insufficient.

What did the education department say?

The North West Department of Education confirmed that Logaga Primary is on a list of schools identified for maintenance or reconstruction. Authorities have instructed districts to assess buildings for minor, major, or complete interventions, with contractors and agencies like Public Works expected to assist.

The department acknowledged that funding constraints and a backlog of repairs have slowed infrastructure upgrades. Parents and teachers expressed frustration at the disruption to learning, particularly in foundational subjects. The department said emergency assessments would be conducted to repair the ceiling and roof before further storms, and discussions are ongoing to improve weatherproofing and regular safety checks.

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Other school-related stories

A brand-new public primary school built to serve more than 1,100 children in Hammanskraal is standing empty months after completion. The school, Ratanang Primary in the Kanana area north of Pretoria, was finalised at the end of 2025. It was completed under the Gauteng Department of Education’s infrastructure drive. As of this report, no learners have stepped inside its classrooms.

The Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, conveyed his condolences after a grade five learner from Reagile Primary School in Thembisa, Ekurhuleni, died on 16 February 2026. According to a statement from the department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, the incident took place during break time.

Mthiyaqhwa Secondary School in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, has temporarily suspended classes after an inspection found the school’s sanitation and infrastructure to be non-compliant with health standards.

Source: Briefly News