Schools had been closed because of rising coronavirus cases/ Reuters
Final year students in secondary schools in South Africa have resumed classes after a one-week break.
President Cyril Ramaphosa closed all schools last week to limit the spread of coronavirus after a surge in cases among learners, but said they will be gradually reopened over a three-week period.
Final year students in secondary schools, which is Grade 12, will be first to resume classes on Monday, followed by final year students in primary schools, Grade Seven, on 10 August.
Other learners will resume classes on 24 August
An education department spokesperson told local TV channel eNCA that the break had enabled the authorities to tighten measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in schools:
The country has passed the half a million mark of infections and has more than half of the total infections in Africa.
-BBC