Gauteng’s education department faces R31.3 billion maintenance crisis.
Gauteng’s education department has to face a large -scale R31.3 billion maintenance backlog for the school infrastructure, while it is allocating only a fraction of the funds required for repair in the current financial year.
In Gauteng, the DA accused the provincial government of condemning the students due to backlog.
“Pupils learn in unsafe, deteriorating buildings, as the authorities have ignored the crisis,” said DA Provincial Spokesperson for Education, Michael Waters.
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1.36% of funds allocated for repair
This was manifested by Mat Matome Chiloane in a written response to a DA question in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
According to the documents viewed by citizenChiloni said that the infrastructure report, completed in 2021, estimated that schools required R27 billion to restore the acceptable standards.
“Reactive maintenance is conducted when a school departmental officer or interest and affected parties raise issues.
“Unfortunately, the department is unable to cover all concerns, especially now due to budget cuts,” he said.
Despite the cost of the balloon, the department has allocated only R427 million for maintenance in 2024-25 financial year-only 1.36%of what is necessary.
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Arrears
According to the report, the breakdown of the backlog is as follows:
- Basic Services – R1 476 080 299;
- Course – R10 364 458 989;
- Security – R2 817 661 853;
- Construction – R12 929 264 594; And
- Sports and Entertainment – R403 698 000.
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Da slam department
Reacting to the revelations, the Waters stated that the department’s failure to maintain schools was condemning the students “unsafe, deteriorating buildings”.
, Department Waters said that trade continues as usual in schools.
He said the promise to build 18 new schools during his province’s address to Premier Panja Lesufi was “hollow”, seeing the inability to maintain the current infrastructure.
“A DA -led Gauteng government will direct the Education Department directly control its infrastructure and implement a comprehensive plan to address the maintenance backlog, which ensures timely repair and quality education,” Waters said.
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Schools separate
Last month, the Basic Education Minister revealed that South Africa needed R129 billion to fix the backlog of the school’s infrastructure by 2030.
He said that more than 13 000 schools require additional toilets, and more than 6 000 schools lack a permanent water supply.
“Many students still face daily risks for their health and safety due to the infrastructure of insufficient school.
“No child should use a dilapidated or dangerous toilet, sit on the floor without a desk, or study in a collapse school building that pose a threat to their good.”
The department stated that it would continue to connect with stakeholders to detect funding solutions that would allow it to complete its mandate and “ensure that each child in South Africa learns in a safe, well -equipped and dignified school environment”.
By additional reporting Faizel Patel,
Now read: The Department of Basic Education needs R129 billion to fix infrastructure in schools.