The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) immediately suspend its decision instructing no-fee-paying schools to be responsible for the payment of their utility bills and historical debt until legal procedures and capacity assessments are completed.
These schools serve underprivileged communities who cannot afford to pay for utility bills. This decision will have a severe impact on learning and teaching, as learners will be taught in dark classrooms and not have water due to the failure of these schools to pay municipal accounts and historical debt.
During an oversight inspection at Eldorado Park schools, the DA Gauteng made a shocking discovery that Section 21(1)(d) has compelled 34 non-fee-paying schools in Eldorado Park to pay municipal debts without proper consultation, assessment, and training. As a result, these schools have been instructed to fundraise to cover budget shortfalls and manage municipal accounts that exceed their financial capabilities.
Letters issued to schools on 18 March 2025 stated that, from 1 April 2025, schools would be responsible for the timely payment of municipal services and supplementing allocated funds through fundraising. This directive is reckless and absurd because the GDE has failed to pay these historical bills, leading to disconnection notices for some schools.
Willow Crescent Secondary receives a monthly allocation of R53 000 but has a municipal debt exceeding R638 000 upon its handover. Meanwhile, Ernest W. Hobbs Primary faces an outstanding debt of over R4.7 million. How are these no-fee schools expected to cover basic services like electricity, water, and sanitation with such overwhelming debts? This is not financial management but financial dumping.
The DA Gauteng has submitted urgent questions to the Gauteng Department of Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to determine why schools were not consulted before implementing Section 21(1).
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would take a proactive and supportive approach to school finances, as demonstrated in the Western Cape. We would work closely with municipalities to ensure schools are not disconnected or penalised over municipal debt from departmental failures.
Gauteng residents deserve an education department that does not shift the burden onto schools, especially those in underprivileged communities, but fulfils its financial obligations in paying municipal accounts.