Community efforts restore Seatides school after tornado

Nearly a year after a violent tornado ripped through oThongathi, leaving widespread destruction in its path, Seatides Combined School is ready to welcome back its pupils.

The school, that had sustained severe infrastructural damage during the June 2024 Tongaat Tornado, has undergone extensive repairs thanks to a collaborative effort led by humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers and a group of dedicated donors and sponsors.

Leading the massive restoration effort was humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers, under the leadership of its founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, who praised the community’s determination and resilience.

Speaking at the handover event, Dr Sooliman described the moment as "a true symbol of hope and recovery" for the people of Seatides and for the learners who were eagerly awaiting their return to a safe, secure and fully functional school environment.

The road to recovery was paved by the generosity of several sponsors and organisations. Standard Bank – South Africa, East Coast Radio, Dunlop Tyres SA, Profibre, Cell C, and Bid Tanks, Lotus FM, Gift of the Givers, Altacon Projects, and major donors such as CMH Ford, Zimbali Foundation, Venk-Pac, Divine Life Society, and Mangroo Foundation, alongside the Department of Education and the Mak-Gandhi circuit, were among the many who came forward to fund the restoration of critical infrastructure – from roofing and walls to windows, doors, and sanitation facilities.

On Wednesday, representatives from those organisations gathered at the school to mark the official handover of the repaired sections.

Former principal Kola Govender confirmed that seven out of the school's ten blocks were now complete and ready for use. "The Divine Life Society and Mangroo Foundation are currently repairing the eighth block, which includes our science labs for physical science and biology," Mr Govender said.