Public schools will now only open on 15 February as government is battling to contain a second wave of Coronavirus infections.
As of Sunday night, there were 1 337 926 infections with 12 267 new cases identified.
A further 254 Covid-19-related deaths were reported bringing the total number of deaths to 37 105.
According to Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga, more than 200 teachers had died since schools closed on 15 December.
Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule said on Friday the decision for the two-week delay was taken after consultation with education stakeholders who were all “united”.
But unions have slammed a decision to have teachers return earlier, on 25 January.
Cynthia Barnes, general secretary for the National Teachers’ Union (Natu), said: “Reasons being there are those coming from (matric paper) marking centres, and their status is not known.
“(They) must isolate themselves for 10 days and be certain that they are clean before going to schools.”
The executive director for the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) Basil Manuel said scientists told them it would be an unwise decision to open schools at the end of January, reports the Weekend Argus.
“We’ve agreed that the 15th will represent a date by which we all think the peak of the pandemic would have passed.
“However, we are a little confused on why teachers would go in on the 25th and first respectively.
“Are teachers then not susceptible to the virus? What will they be doing then?
“Preparations for 2021 had to be completed in 2020.”
Western Cape Education MEC, Debbie Schäfer, said she’s not sure if the delay will make any difference: “We would have preferred a differentiated approach, as not all provinces are affected the same or at the same time.
“We are very concerned at the effect of another delay on the long-term education of our pupils and on parents who are trying to work.”