News24 reports that while the phased-in reopening of schools in the midst of Covid-19 remains provisional, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has advised principals and school management teams (SMT) to wait a few more days before returning this week.  

SMTs were meant to return to schools from Monday, 11 May, to prepare for pupils' phasing in, according to an announcement by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga two weeks ago.  But in a letter to public school principals and SMTs, the WCED advised principals and staff to hold back direction from Motshekga on the national situation was awaited.  The letter also advised that Motshekga would be meeting the Council of Education Ministers on Monday, the outcome of which was awaited.  Head of Education Brian Schreuder said that while he was aware that teachers were keen to return to school in the interests of pupils and recovering time lost due to the pandemic, there was also a need for safety to be considered.  So principals and SMTs should hold back from returning until Wednesday, or until he received clarity on the way forward, on a national level.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sesona Ngqakamba at News24