By Johnathan Paoli
The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) says the KwaZulu-Natal education department officially “collapsed”, citing systemic failures in funding, administration and basic service delivery that have left schools in disarray and learners vulnerable.
Sadtu KZN’s secretariat painted a grim picture of an education system in free-fall.
“Despite engagements and repeated commitments from the department, no tangible progress has been made. The level of inaction is at its highest. It is for these reasons that Sadtu has declared the KwaZulu-Natal department of education as having collapsed,” the union said on Monday.
Provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said that even after continuous dialogue including formal bilateral meetings, pickets and direct appeals, the department has failed to address critical issues affecting both learners and education workers.
Sadtu highlighted a long list of grievances, including the non-payment of school allocations, failure to appoint substitute teachers, unpaid acting allowances for office-based staff and the collapse of support structures that enable effective teaching and learning.
Caluza also warned of deteriorating safety conditions, citing recent incidents where teachers were hijacked at gunpoint on school premises.
A particularly damaging concern is the department’s violation of national norms and standards.
For instance, while Quintile 1–3 schools are entitled to R1602 per learner annually, KZN only allocates R955, a shortfall of R647 per learner.
In some cases, schools have received no funding at all for the current term, with allocations withheld or paid in irregular tranches.
“This is not only a violation of the South African Schools Act, but a blatant disregard for the Constitution. Section 29 of the Constitution guarantees every child the right to basic education. The department is not only in contempt of this provision, but also undermining the rights and futures of millions,” Caluza said in a statement.
Sadtu also condemned what it called a “silent retrenchment” through the freezing of posts for clerks, assistants and security staff.
“Schools are being left exposed, teachers are in danger, and administrative support is virtually non-existent.”
As part of its response, the union’s provincial secretariat has launched a work-to-rule campaign.
Members will limit their duties to the standard seven-hour teaching day, refuse to attend departmental meetings or workshops and boycott making submissions until outstanding funds are paid.
Principals, many of whom have been using their own money to keep schools afloat, have been instructed not to engage in any further unfunded mandates.
Despite the department’s continued inaction, Sadtu praised the commitment of its members for ensuring improved matric results year after year.
“Their sacrifices have kept the system from total collapse. But that goodwill has been stretched too far,” said the union.
This declaration of collapse comes at a time when the department is already under scrutiny.
On the same day Sadtu released its statement, education MEC Sipho Hlomuka conducted oversight visits in the Umzinyathi District to assess school functionality following social media outcry over learner safety.
The MEC acknowledged concerns about the safety of learners, especially those attending Mowbray Primary School, and pledged to collaborate with municipalities and the transport department to address infrastructural gaps.
He also acknowledged parental preferences for Mowbray over other nearby schools, attributing them to religious considerations.
However, critics argue that such site visits are mere optics, especially when set against the growing crisis.
Hlomuka’s call for patience stands in stark contrast to the desperation felt by schools and educators across the province.
The crisis deepened further with disruptions to the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), as service providers warned they would not deliver food to schools due to non-payment.
According to the NSNP Service Providers Association, many contractors have not been paid for April or earlier months, putting over a million learners at risk of going without meals.
Association spokesperson Thabang Mncwabe condemned the department’s failure to meet its legal obligation under the Public Finance Management Act, which mandates payment within 30 days of receiving a valid invoice.
“This not only violates the rights of service providers but gravely undermines the health, dignity, and education of learners,” Mncwabe said.
The department attributed the payment delays to technical issues linked to the new Standard Charts of Accounts Version 6, which it claims inadvertently excluded certain providers.
A special payment run is now scheduled for 3 June, with payments expected by 6 June.
While Hlomuka appealed for understanding and urged principals to negotiate interim arrangements with service providers, many fear the damage has already been done.
“This is Youth Month, and instead of celebrating the promise of education, learners face hunger and uncertainty,” said Mncwabe.
As stakeholders demand urgent intervention from the Basic Education Department, the situation in KwaZulu-Natal is fast heading to a breakdown in provincial education governance.
INSIDE EDUCATION
