By Johnathan Paoli
The KwaZulu-Natal government has confirmed its inability to supply learning and teaching support material (LTSM) to certain districts due to financial challenges as a result of budget cuts.
Education HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo said that his department would proceed with payments to service providers for LTSM that have already been delivered to certain schools.
“Schools must refer these cases to district offices for further resolution, which shall be made in consultation with schools to ensure that learners are not prejudiced,” Ngcobo said.
The HOD said that districts would convey the undertaking to suppliers which were awarded orders for the supply of LTSM through seeking feedback whether deliveries shall be forthcoming.
Ngcobo said in cases where deliveries were made, schools were reminded to ensure that invoices were adequately signed, stamped and dated in order to confirm accountability.
He said that once invoices were uploaded onto the online platform, his department would verify deliveries against orders placed and prioritise the transfer of funds to schools within 30 days.
Ngcobo called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to uphold the rights of learners.
This follows claims by the department that the supply of materials was on track ahead of the 2025 academic year.
Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka maintained that his department was almost complete in the delivery of resources, saying last week that 99% of textbooks and 76% of stationery had been delivered across the province for pupils in 4174 schools.
Unions in the province questioned this claim, with the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa) maintaining its inability to confirm Hlomuka’s assertion.
Naptosa provincial CEO Thirona Moodley said the organisation remained concerned that schools were under resourced for the previous year and that this would be carried over to the upcoming year.
“Schools are in arrears with municipal bills and are unable to keep the operations of the school afloat. School principals can no longer take on the financial burden of the department,” Moodley said.
The Public Servants Association also condemned the department for failing to deliver LTSM on time.
PSA provincial manager Mlungisi Ndlovu stressed the impact this would have on learners. While acknowledging that some progress has been made, he highlighted that the incomplete and delayed allocation of LTSM posed a serious threat to the operational readiness of schools.
Hlomuka previously admitted that delivery failures were due to security concerns at certain schools, claiming that the department was actively working with authorities to curb potential theft and other forms of crime in order to safeguard delivery.
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