The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed that the principal of Franklin D Roosevelt Primary School in Randburg was sanctioned following an investigation into allegations that a school governing body (SGB) member was asked to pay about R5,000 to renew a contract.

GDE spokesperson Onwabile Lubhelwana told Inside Education that the internal disciplinary process had been concluded, while separate allegations of selling teaching posts and intimidation had not been formally reported to the department.

“The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) can confirm that the allegation relating to the demand for approximately R5000 has been investigated and internal disciplinary process concluded, and the principal was sanctioned accordingly,” Lubhelwana said.

The department not disclose the nature of the sanction or when it was imposed.

“However, no formal complaints on the allegation of selling of posts and intimidation have been reported to the Department. Once reported, the department will determine the cause of action.”

The Democratic Alliance (DA) this week called for an independent investigation into alleged financial irregularities, intimidation and staffing concerns at the school.

“We want an independent investigation into the allegations against the principal and disciplinary action against anyone found responsible for wrongdoing,” the DA said.

In a statement issued on Monday, DA Gauteng shadow MEC for education Sergio Isa Dos Santos accused the department of failing to resolve longstanding complaints involving the school’s management.

The controversy follows a protest by parents and SGB members outside the school on 13 October, when demonstrators called for the removal of principal Victor Matloga over allegations concerning his management.

Matloga had previously been dismissed and subsequently reinstated following proceedings at the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).

The DA alleged that his reinstatement followed the department’s failure to submit required documentation within the prescribed timeframe.

However, in February, the Northcliff Melville Times reported that the department had given a different account of the proceedings.

Then-GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona told the publication that Matloga had been found guilty in an earlier disciplinary process, but that the finding did not warrant dismissal. He said Matloga successfully challenged the finding at arbitration and was exonerated.

The DA also raised concerns about educator shortages, including claims that Grade 5 Afrikaans classes were being combined because of a lack of qualified teachers.

“The situation has worsened, with 10 educators leaving the school and daily absences of at least four to five teachers,” the DA said.

The department disputed the allegations of a teacher shortage.

Lubhelwana said seven SGB employees and two GDE employees had resigned since September 2025 to pursue better employment opportunities, but that their positions had been filled.

“Numerous academic and leadership monitoring and support visits were conducted at the said school. District Officials have been allocated to mediate between the SGB and the school principal, to resolve differences and improve working relations, moving forward,” he said.

The DA has called on Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile to commission an independent investigation into the broader allegations and determine whether departmental officials failed in their duties.

The party said it would submit questions to Maile to establish the history of the dispute and assess whether the department’s handling of the matter was consistent with the documentary evidence it had obtained.

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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for an independent investigation into alleged financial irregularities, intimidation and staff shortages at a Johannesburg primary school, months after parents raised concerns about its principal’s reinstatement, and just a week after a protest at the school.

In a statement on Monday, the party accused the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) of failing to resolve longstanding complaints involving the management of Franklin D Roosevelt Primary School in Randburg.

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education Sergio Isa Dos Santos said the allegations included the sale of posts, extortion and intimidation involving the school’s principal.

One complaint involved a school governing body (SGB) member who was allegedly asked to pay R5,000 to renew a contract.

The party also raised concerns about staffing shortages.

“The situation has worsened, with 10 educators leaving the school and daily absences of at least four to five teachers,” the DA said.

It claimed that Grade 5 Afrikaans classes were being combined because of a shortage of qualified educators, with some learners being taught by unqualified staff.

On 13 October, parents and SGB members protested outside the school, demanding the removal of principal Victor Matloga over longstanding allegations concerning his management.

In February, the Northcliff Melville Times reported that parents had protested against the reinstatement of Matloga following disciplinary proceedings.

SGB chairperson Fagmoedien Otto told the publication that complaints involving alleged financial mismanagement, intimidation, abuse of power and extortion had been raised with the department several years earlier.

Otto claimed that procedural failures by the department had undermined disciplinary proceedings against the principal.

However, the GDE disputed the suggestion that Matloga had escaped accountability solely because of procedural failures.

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona told the publication at the time that the principal had been found guilty in disciplinary proceedings, but that the outcome did not warrant dismissal.

“Accordingly, he appealed the guilty verdict, and, as such, he was exonerated at arbitration, consequently there is no questionable conduct on his part,” Mabona said.

The department said it respected the arbitration outcome.

The DA has now questioned the handling of the case, alleging that the principal was reinstated by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) after the department failed to submit required documentation within the prescribed timeframe.

The party wants Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile to investigate the department’s handling of the matter and establish whether officials failed to carry out their responsibilities.

“We will submit questions to the MEC to establish the history of this case and determine whether it aligns with all the documentary evidence obtained,” the DA said.

It also wants an independent investigation into the allegations against the principal and disciplinary action against anyone found responsible for wrongdoing.

The department did not respond to questions from Inside Education. Their responses will be added once received.

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Gauteng has intensified its crackdown on illegally operating independent schools, with 32 schools served with closure letters since the beginning of the year and two school directors arrested.

The figures were revealed by Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Lebogang Maile during a media briefing on the state of independent schools in the province on Sunday.

According to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), officials visited 61 schools suspected of operating illegally between January and September 2026, with 32 subsequently served with closure letters.

“Between January and September 2026, 61 schools were visited and 32 were served with closure letters. Of the schools dealt with in 2026, seven were found to have ceased operating, four subsequently applied for registration with the department and two school directors were arrested,” Maile said.

The crackdown comes as Gauteng’s independent school sector continues to expand, with the province now having 1,083 registered and operational independent schools, up from 961 in 2021.

“The department does not regard the closure of an illegal school as the end of the matter because the learners still require education,” it said.

When an institution is found to be operating unlawfully, it is instructed to cease operating and the relevant closure process is followed.

The GDE said it does not simply shut down illegal schools without considering the learners affected.

Following a closure, the relevant education district is required to work with parents to place affected learners in lawful schools, ensuring that they do not lose access to education.

Maile said concerns about illegal schools could be raised by parents, community members or other government institutions.

“Officials then visit the premises and verify the institution’s registration and compliance documents before determining whether it is operating lawfully,” he added.

The department has urged parents to verify the registration status of independent schools before enrolling their children or paying fees.

“A school building, uniform, website or advertisement does not on its own prove that an institution is legally operating,” the department said.

Parents are advised to request the school’s Education Management Information System (EMIS) registration certificate and ensure that the EMIS number and physical address correspond with the school their children will attend.

“While GDE registration gives an independent school legal authority to operate, Umalusi accreditation relates to quality assurance for schools offering qualifications that fall within its mandate,” Maile said.

The issue has become increasingly significant as Gauteng’s independent school sector continues to grow.

Maile said the province had 1,083 operational independent schools in 2026, compared with 961 in 2021 — an increase of 122 schools over five years.

“These institutions currently educate 379,727 learners and employ 24,974 educators.”

However, the sector’s growth has also brought an increase in complaints from parents and learners.

Between 2024 and August 6, 2026, the department received 3,688 cases relating to independent schools.

Of these, 550 concerned registration, 518 involved outstanding fees linked to suspension or expulsion, and 422 related to outstanding fees and the withholding of transfer certificates or learner reports.

“The department also received 458 disciplinary and bullying cases, 345 admission or refusal-to-re-enrol cases and 312 curriculum and assessment queries,” Maile added.

“The government has a responsibility to ensure that its processes are applied consistently and transparently.”

The department said it monitors registration, governance, financial management, teaching and learning, learner and educator attendance, safety and examination requirements.

Independent schools may also be subjected to unannounced departmental visits to monitor leadership, governance and curriculum delivery.

“Parents should check a school’s legal status before enrolling a child,” Maile said.

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Gauteng has 405,627 available school places for the 2027 academic year, but the province says a mismatch between where capacity exists and where families want their children to attend is fuelling overcrowding at popular schools.

The Gauteng Department of Education received 805,688 applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 for 2027, representing 346,877 individual learners after accounting for parents who applied to multiple schools.

Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile said at a press briefing on Sunday about online placements and admissions for 2027 that the figures show that the province’s problem is not simply a shortage of school places, but the concentration of demand in particular areas and schools.

“We have 405,627 available spaces. So in theory, we don’t have a problem,” Maile said.

However, he said the available capacity could not simply be used to accommodate learners because parents’ demand is heavily concentrated around certain schools.

At Grade 8 level, Hoërskool Langenhoven in Tshwane West received 3,462 applications, while Alberton High School received 2,756, Katlehong Secondary School 2,747, Katlehong Engineering School of Specialisation 2,573 and Parktown Boys’ High School 2,448.

At Grade 1 level, Laerskool Akasia received 1,355 applications, followed by Palmridge Primary School with 1,330, Alston Primary School with 1,207, Lakeside Primary School with 1,162 and Stoneridge Primary School with 1,153.

Maile said the department could not move learners from one part of the province to another simply because another school had available classrooms.

“I went to a school in Sebokeng. I think they’ve got space for about 500. There’s space for about 500, but it’s in Sebokeng. And then if you go to a school here in Alex, there are 500 more or 1,000 more, but Alex is here. So you can’t take those kids from Alex to Sebokeng because they stay here in Alex,” he said.

Maile said the department needed to rethink how existing capacity across Gauteng’s public schools is used, rather than continually expanding schools that are already popular.

He said the pressure was particularly difficult when thousands of parents selected a school that could accommodate only a fraction of the applications.

The department said placement would therefore have to follow its prescribed criteria, including the learner’s home address and proximity to the school.

Other factors include whether the learner has a sibling at the school, the learner’s previous school in the case of Grade 8 applicants, the parent’s work address and whether the learner lives within 30 kilometres of the school.

Where none of the schools selected by a parent has available space, the department may offer a place at the next closest school with capacity.

Maile said the concentration of learners at popular schools also had consequences beyond admissions.

“Unfortunately, where there’s overcrowding, there’s many other social problems because sometimes kids don’t have enough furniture and that becomes a source of fights amongst learners. There’s bullying, gangsterism, and all those issues,” he said.

The province is also facing pressure to increase capacity as Gauteng’s population grows and new residential areas develop.

Maile said the department had identified the need to build at least 200 schools, which he estimated would require at least R35 billion.

“Those schools include some of the schools that are just temporary schools,” he said.

The department said it was considering a combination of permanent infrastructure, public-private partnerships, alternative construction methods and mobile classrooms to respond to demand.

It is also considering whether leasing mobile classrooms could be more practical than buying them in areas where enrolment pressures are temporary or likely to shift.

At the same time, Maile said the province needed to make better use of existing facilities, including underused libraries, while expanding hybrid and e-learning.

“If you’ve got, for instance, libraries, which are not utilised and classrooms are full, you can still have kids going to those libraries and we teach them from there,” he said.

The department said placement offers for learners with complete applications are scheduled to begin on 15 October.

Parents will receive offers by SMS and will have seven days to accept or decline an offer. Placement will continue through the remainder of the year as the department works to accommodate all learners.

Maile said the goal was to have as many learners placed as possible before January to reduce the disruption that typically accompanies the start of the school year.

The department has also warned parents against paying people who claim they can secure school places, saying such payments amount to corruption and cannot guarantee admission.

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Learners from Pretoria-Tuine Ingenieurskool van Spesialisasie demonstrated their practical technical and problem-solving skills during the school’s official launch as an Engineering School of Specialisation on Friday.

From fitting and machining to electrical systems, construction, plumbing and automotive technology, the Gauteng Department of Education said learners brought their technical training to life through a series of practical demonstrations.

Led by MEC Lebogang Maile, the department said the launch marked Gauteng’s 39th School of Specialisation, another step in creating pathways for young people to pursue technical careers and contribute to the province’s future.

“Pretoria-Tuine Ingenieurskool van Spesialisasie is opening new pathways for learners to turn talent into technical expertise and practical skills through Civil Technology, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Technology, with practical training in woodwork, plumbing, construction, fitting and machining, automotive, digital technology, power systems, and electronics,” the department said.

“By investing in specialised, hands-on education, Gauteng is empowering young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to build successful careers and contribute to the province’s growing economy.”

The department said the learners were applying their skills by building a storeroom for the technical centre, gaining hands-on experience in planning, measuring, building and problem-solving.

Maile also joined the learners, laying a brick with their guidance.

“This is what practical, skills-based education looks like,” the department said.

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Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has rejected claims that money meant for schools was spent on office accommodation, saying the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) does not procure or lease office space.

Maile said office accommodation is procured and managed by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development, which serves as the custodian of provincial immovable assets in terms of the Government Immovable Asset Management Act. The GDE, however, is responsible for rental payments for leased district office accommodation.

“The Gauteng Department of Education does not procure office accommodation, enter into lease agreements for such accommodation, or administer a budget for the procurement of office accommodation,” he said in a statement issued on Thursday.

Maile’s rejection follows claims by Democratic Alliance Gauteng education spokesperson Michael Waters that the provincial government spends more than R230 million a year on rented and operating costs for GDE district offices while schools face significant funding shortfalls.

Waters said in July that 10 of the GDE’s 15 district offices were housed in privately owned buildings, citing a written response by Maile to questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

According to the information, the province spends R15.27 million a month, or R183.2 million a year, on rent for the 10 privately owned district offices.

A further R47.2 million is spent annually on municipal services, bringing the total to more than R230 million a year.

Waters questioned why government-owned buildings were not being used for the district offices, particularly while schools were facing funding pressures.

“The fact that two-thirds of the department’s district offices are housed in privately leased buildings raises serious questions about whether the Provincial Government is making the best use of its own property portfolio or unnecessarily enriching private landlords at taxpayers’ expense,” Waters said.

He said the spending was concerning because it came at a time when the GDE had reduced the per-learner allocation to affected Quintile 5 schools by about 64%.

“The Premier Panyaza Lesufi-led government cannot claim there is no money while spending millions of rand on leasing office space,” Waters said.

But the department said in its statement: “Any suggestion that the Gauteng Department of Education has spent money on office accommodation at the expense of school funding is mischievous and misleading.”

Maile said the GDE remains responsible for funding schools in accordance with the South African Schools Act and the National Norms and Standards for School Funding.

For 2026, the national target amounts are R1,835 per learner for Quintile 1 to 3 schools, R919 per learner for Quintile 4 schools and R315 per learner for Quintile 5 schools.

“The Gauteng Department of Education has not deviated from these prescribed funding requirements,” the department said.

“School funding has not been reduced or redirected by the Department for the procurement of office accommodation.”

The GDE has previously said the reduction in the Quintile 5 per-learner allocation was a realignment to nationally prescribed funding targets rather than an arbitrary cut to the education budget.

Waters has called for further investigation into why the district offices are housed in privately leased buildings and whether suitable government-owned properties could be used instead.

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The Gauteng Department of Education recorded 22,020 child abuse, learner protection and related cases across its reporting, counselling and investigation systems between 2023 and 2026.

The figures were disclosed by Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile in a written reply to questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature about mechanisms available to learners to report abuse and access support services.

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According to the department, 18,843 cases were recorded through its 24-hour helpline, 3,022 by the Learner Psycho-Social Support Directorate’s clinical counselling service and 155 were reported to the Special Investigations Directorate (SID).

“The total number of child abuse cases reported over the past ten years is not available. However, a total of 22 020 cases were reported during the period 2023 to 2026,” Maile said in his written response.

The figures cover a range of learner safety, protection and wellbeing concerns within and beyond the school environment.

The department’s records include physical, emotional and sexual abuse, rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, neglect, bullying, gangsterism, discrimination, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health-related cases.

Among cases recorded by the Learner Psycho-Social Support Directorate’s clinical counselling service were 695 rape cases, 423 sexual assault cases, 74 sexual harassment cases, 398 domestic violence cases, 369 neglect cases, 256 emotional abuse cases and 179 physical abuse cases.

The 24-hour helpline recorded 3,960 emotional abuse cases, 2,006 physical abuse cases, 1,995 deliberate physical neglect cases, 1,936 deliberate emotional neglect cases, 681 harassment cases, 665 involving exposure to domestic violence, 571 involving child starvation, 376 sexual assault or abuse cases and 344 rape cases.

The SID received 155 cases over the reporting period, including 15 corporal punishment cases, seven cases involving educator bullying of learners, two cases of learner assault by educators, three cases of sexual abuse involving educators and four involving principals.

Its caseload also included allegations involving racism, discrimination, gangsterism, learner fights and other serious misconduct.

“The Gauteng Department of Education has established multiple formal mechanisms to enable learners to report incidents of abuse and to access appropriate psycho-social and protective services,” Maile said.

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He said 118 social workers had been deployed to schools through a partnership with the Gauteng Department of Social Development to intervene in abuse and child protection cases.

“All schools have established School-Based Support Teams, which serve as the first point of receipt and management of reported cases. Cases received by School-Based Support Teams are referred, where appropriate, to social workers and District-Based Support Teams for further intervention and support,” Maile said.

The department said turnaround times varied according to the complexity of matters and the availability and willingness of witnesses.

The Democratic Alliance said the absence of a standard measure of investigation times made it difficult to assess whether cases were being handled promptly.

DA Gauteng education spokesperson Sergio Isa Dos Santos said the figures highlighted the scale of learner protection concerns in the province and called for stronger case-monitoring systems.

“The department’s failure to provide the average turnaround time for investigations is concerning. This lack of transparency makes it impossible to assess whether allegations of child abuse are being investigated or whether vulnerable learners are receiving the protection they deserve,” he said.

Dos Santos said the party would write to Maile requesting the introduction of a centralised case-tracking system with enforceable investigation deadlines.

“Every parent deserves to know that no matter which school their child attends, reports of abuse will be tracked properly, investigated timeously, and escalated to relevant authorities,” he said.

He said a DA-led Gauteng government would introduce a learner protection system under which every abuse report would receive a reference number and be tracked from start to finish, while urgent cases would be referred to the South African Police Service, social workers and psychologists.

The party also wants stronger vetting of educators and staff and regular training on learner protection.

Maile said learners could already make reports anonymously through toll-free and confidential channels used by the department and its partner organisations.

“Anonymous reporting systems are currently available to learners through the existing toll-free and confidential reporting platforms utilised by the Department and its partner organisations,” Maile said.

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The Gauteng Department of Education has deployed trauma support teams to Michael Zulu Primary School after an educator was shot dead while walking alongside a group of learners less than a kilometre from the Tsakane school.

The District Integrated School Support Team is providing trauma debriefing to affected learners, while other departmental teams have met educators and staff and arranged counselling for the educator’s family.

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The 29-year-old educator was attacked at the corner of Dunge and Masinga streets at about 7 am on Monday while on his way to school.

“The motive for the shooting remains unknown,” the department said.

The South African Police Service has opened an investigation into the killing.

Gauteng MEC for Education Lebogang Maile expressed shock and sadness following the shooting.

“On behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government, MEC Maile extends his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, his colleagues, learners and the entire Michael Zulu Primary School community.”

The department said the loss of an educator was a profound tragedy, not only for the school but for society as a whole.

It said educators dedicated their lives to nurturing, mentoring and preparing the next generation, and no family or school should have to endure such a loss.

“The District Integrated School Support Team was deployed to provide trauma debriefing to affected learners, while the Circuit Team, the Integrated School Support Programme (ISSP) and Safe Schools Management met with educators and staff to provide support and outline the Department’s response,” the department said.

“Further psychosocial support has been arranged through the PMD Unit, while the Department is also working closely with the educator’s family to ensure they receive the necessary counselling and support.”

The department said the incident was a painful reminder that the fight against crime could not be left to law enforcement agencies alone and required a united societal response.

Through its “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” community outreach campaign, the department said it continued to mobilise parents, communities, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, community policing forums, civil society and all spheres of government to combat crime and protect learners and educators.

“Safe schools can only exist in safe communities.”

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The department called on residents to reject criminality, cooperate with law enforcement authorities, report those responsible for violent crime and play an active role in safeguarding schools and neighbourhoods.

“An attack on an educator is an attack on the future of our children and on the values that bind our communities together.”

Maile urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to cooperate fully with SAPS so those responsible could be brought to justice.

“The Department will continue to support the school community during this difficult period and remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that every learner and every educator can learn and work in an environment that is safe, secure and conducive to quality education,” it said.

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The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed that public schools can now resume printing and issuing learner report cards after the South African School Administration and Management System (SA-SAMS) was fully restored following a technical outage.

The disruption, caused by the temporary unavailability of the Citrix environment that supports SA-SAMS, prevented some schools from accessing learner administration records and delayed the issuing of report cards at the end of the second school term.

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The restoration follows concerns raised by parents and schools after the system failure left some learners unable to receive their academic results before the school holidays.

Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, welcomed the restoration of the system and thanked school communities for their patience during the disruption.

“On behalf of the Gauteng Department of Education, we wish to thank our school communities for their patience during this technical challenge. The restoration of SA-SAMS means schools can now continue with the important administrative work of finalising and issuing report cards without further interruption,” Maile said.

The department said schools have already been informed that they can resume report card processing, with principals and administrative staff working to clear the backlog and ensure learners receive their academic records as soon as possible.

GDE reiterated that SA-SAMS is a national system managed by the Department of Basic Education and that provincial education departments depend on its stability to carry out critical learner administration functions.

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The department added that the restoration of the Citrix environment has enabled schools to regain full access to the system and continue normal administrative operations.

Schools experiencing any further technical difficulties have been advised to contact the GDE Service Desk for immediate assistance.

The restoration comes on the final day of the second school term, with public schools closing on Friday, 26 June 2026, for the winter holidays. Learners are expected to return for the start of the third term on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.

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Some Gauteng schools will issue Term 2 report cards late after a technical failure disrupted access to SA-SAMS, the national school administration system used to capture and finalise learner records.

The disruption comes as schools prepare to close for the end of the second term on Friday, with learners expected to return on 21 July.

“On behalf of the Gauteng Department of Education, I extend my sincere apology to learners, parents and school staff affected by this delay. We understand the importance of report cards in tracking learner progress and planning for the academic term ahead,” said Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile.

He said system administrators and technicians were working to restore full functionality and normalise access.

Maile urged affected schools and parents to allow the technical process to be concluded so that report cards could be issued without compromising the integrity and accuracy of learner records.

“We are confident that the technical teams handling the matter will restore the system soon. We appreciate the patience shown by schools, learners and parents as this process is being resolved,” he said.

The provincial education department said it would continue to keep schools informed as progress is made.

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Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile will push for criminal action against officials implicated in school financial mismanagement, saying dismissals are not enough where public money has been stolen.

Presenting the Gauteng Department of Education’s R70.9 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year at the provincial legislature on Tuesday, Maile said that the department had identified around 30 schools where financial mismanagement had been detected.

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“I don’t just want people to be fired, I want them to be arrested. Firing is not enough,” he said.

Maile said he intended engaging law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to ensure cases involving the theft of school funds were criminally investigated.

He cited one case involving a principal at a Katlehong school, who allegedly withdrew R400,000 from a school’s bank account.

“They just fired the principal. I said I want that principal arrested. We can’t have people stealing public money and simply walking away,” he said.

The warning came as Maile tabled a budget aimed at responding to overcrowding, learner support needs, school safety, infrastructure pressures and improving academic performance across the province.

The allocation represents a R2.9 billion increase from the previous financial year.

Maile said Gauteng continued to face significant challenges linked to rapid urbanisation, rising learner enrolment and overcrowding in schools.

The province currently serves more than 2.86 million learners across 3,320 schools.

According to the department, R54.6 billion of the total budget is allocated to employee compensation, with approximately R52 billion going towards educator salaries.

Addressing concerns over the shortage of social workers in schools, Maile said budget constraints made it impossible to place a social worker at every school in Gauteng.

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“There’s a lot of demands, but the resources are minimal. So it’s ideal that every school must have a social worker. We don’t have the money and the problem is that because sometimes we don’t explain, an impression is that the government has got a lot of money, the government must provide social workers, must provide, build everybody a house, unfortunately, that’s not the case,” he said.

“We are still able to provide psychosocial support through our districts, but it is not enough. We have more than 2,000 public schools. To place a social worker in every school would require resources we simply do not have,” he said.

Maile said the department continued to work with the Department of Social Development to provide support services to learners where possible.

To improve access to quality early learning, the department has allocated R994 million towards Early Childhood Development programmes.

A further R1.2 billion has been set aside for interventions aimed at improving learner performance in Mathematics, Science, Technology and literacy.

Infrastructure development will receive R2.7 billion, while R3.7 billion has been allocated to education modernisation initiatives, including school reorganisation and the expansion of specialised schools.

The MEC also reaffirmed the department’s commitment to supporting learners with special educational needs, saying dedicated funding had been allocated to programmes targeting vulnerable learners.

School safety and learner wellbeing remain key priorities, with R3.3 billion earmarked for learner wellness programmes, psychosocial support, anti-drug initiatives, school health services, sports, arts and cultural development.

In addition to the provincial allocation, the department will receive R3.9 billion in conditional grants to support infrastructure projects, school nutrition programmes, Early Childhood Development, Mathematics, Science and Technology initiatives, as well as services for learners with disabilities.

Maile also announced that the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation had been allocated R1.055 billion for the 2026/27 financial year.

The funding will support youth development, literacy programmes, talent identification and community participation in sport, arts and culture.

More than 400 schools will participate in the province’s Sport Wednesday programme, while sporting equipment and attire will be provided to 500 schools. The department said it would also support over 600 learners competing at provincial and national level.

Maile said the initiatives were aimed at identifying young talent while promoting discipline, social cohesion and educational development.

The province is also investing in literacy programmes, with R297.6 million allocated to library and archival services, including R194.8 million that will be transferred to municipalities to modernise community libraries.

An additional R5.1 million has been set aside for reading programmes across Gauteng communities as government seeks to improve literacy outcomes among young people.

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Thousands of Gauteng learners could again face school placement challenges in 2027 as the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has yet to announce when Grade 1 and Grade 8 admissions will open, despite the academic year already being well underway.

DA shadow MEC for Education Sergio Isa Dos Santos on Tuesday urged the department to urgently release the admissions timetable, warning that continued delays could leave learners unplaced when schools reopen next year.

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“The delay in opening the admissions process reduces the time available to properly process applications, verify information, and finalise placements before the start of the academic year,” Dos Santos said.

He said past delays had already had serious consequences for learners and parents.

“During the 2026 admissions cycle, thousands of learners remained unplaced as schools prepared to reopen, with some only receiving placements in March when the first term was almost over,” he said.

Popular schools in Gauteng continue to reach capacity quickly, while infrastructure expansion has struggled to keep pace with rising learner numbers.

At the same time, administrative backlogs in the admissions system have added to delays in finalising placements, leaving many parents uncertain about where their children will be placed.

In this environment, perceptions of unfairness often arise, particularly when communication from education authorities is limited and clear timelines are not provided.

In previous years, some parents only received placements weeks into the academic year, heightening frustration over the system’s efficiency.

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The issue of school non-placement is not framed around citizens versus non-citizens, but rather as a system under strain that is struggling to meet demand.

While the Constitution guarantees every child the right to basic education, stakeholders argue that this right is undermined when learners are not placed timeously and consistently.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for the immediate opening of the 2027 admissions process, alongside improved planning measures such as decentralised walk-in centres and stronger communication with parents.

The party argues that earlier application windows would give the department more time to process placements, reduce administrative pressure, and allow families to plan for school-related costs such as uniforms, transport and stationery.

“The department must learn from its past mistakes. We cannot continue to repeat a cycle where learners are left unplaced or placed too late into the school year,” Dos Santos said.

The DA further maintains that improved and earlier admissions management would help reduce administrative errors and ensure learners are placed before the start of the academic year, limiting disruption to schooling.

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The DA in Gauteng has accused the provincial government (GPG) of failing to remove ageing asbestos structures from Randfontein Secondary School and Toekomsrus Primary School, saying learners and teachers remain exposed to unsafe buildings despite repeated promises to replace them.

DA Gauteng Education spokesperson Sergio Isa Dos Santos, MPL, said on Monday that teachers were continuing to work in unsafe environments that compromised their safety and dignity, despite the Gauteng government’s long-standing promise to replace asbestos schools with safe, modern infrastructure.

“During a recent sitting of the Gauteng Legislature, MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, failed to give a clear answer to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) oral question on why the GPG has still not eradicated asbestos infrastructure years after missing the deadlines set out in the 2013 Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure,” Dos Santos said.

“Instead, he repeated the government’s hollow commitment to asbestos eradication, with no clear timeline or end in sight.”

Dos Santos said the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) had previously allocated about R112 million for rehabilitation and asbestos-related infrastructure upgrades at Randfontein Secondary School.

Despite that allocation, he said, a DA oversight inspection found that critical safety hazards remained unresolved, including an incomplete administration block, unfinished bathrooms, falling ceiling panels and staircases missing safety bars, all of which continued to put learners and staff at risk.

“Shockingly, the department’s so-called intervention in this school seems to have involved building brick-and-mortar structures around existing asbestos classrooms rather than completely removing them,” he said.

“Most of these structures have since deteriorated or collapsed, exposing learners and educators to cracked and broken asbestos panels.”

Dos Santos said the situation had been worsened by severe overcrowding at the school, with Grade 8 classes recording learner-to-teacher ratios of 1:50 and Grade 11 classes reaching as high as 1:73.

At Toekomsrus Primary School, Dos Santos said asbestos infrastructure remained in place and required urgent replacement.

“Some of the school’s mobile classrooms are more than 30 years old and need to be removed, while the roof blocks are in dire need of maintenance,” he said.

“Although the department assessed the school two years ago, no work has been carried out.”

Dos Santos said he was “outraged” that the GPG continued to delay the eradication of asbestos schools despite the well-known deadly health risks linked to asbestos exposure.

“The DA will escalate the issue to Premier Panyaza Lesufi for urgent intervention,” he said.

“Those responsible for these unacceptable delays must be held accountable for continuing to hold learners and educators hostage in unsafe and undignified conditions.”

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The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has said that schools will start receiving delayed subsidy payments from the beginning of June, after missing the May deadline for the first tranche of funding.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the department said it acknowledged the delay in releasing the subsidies to schools across the province, adding that  the funds were expected to have been deposited into school accounts by 15 May.

“Firstly, we would like to express our apologies to all schools and stakeholders of Gauteng for the delays in the release of funds schools are entitled to as per paragraph 12A of the National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF),”Gauteng Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC, Lebogang Maile said.

The subsidies are meant to cover critical operational costs at schools, including learning and teaching support materials, municipal services, maintenance, and administrative expenses.

“We recognise that the funds are also key in the promotion of proper school governance, financial management, and improved educational outcomes while addressing historical injustices of our society and improving conditions in previously underfunded public schools,” Maile added.

Under paragraph 121A of the National Norms and Standards for School Funding, provincial education departments must make transfer payments to public schools on or before 15 May and 15 November each year.

The department said schools had already received final allocation letters indicating how much funding they would receive during the current financial year.

“We want to assure the public and all stakeholders that the funds are there and schools will start accessing them from the start of June,” Maile said. 

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The Gauteng Department of Education has launched the African Neurodiversity Association and the African Journal of Neurodiversity, in a move aimed at strengthening autism research, advocacy, and support from an African perspective.

The initiative was unveiled at the University of South Africa’s Muckleneuk campus in Pretoria on Wednesday, as part of commemorations linked to World Autism Awareness Day.

Delivering his keynote address, Gauteng MEC for Education Lebogang Maile said the launch marked an important step towards addressing gaps in research, policy and support for neurodiverse individuals.

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“The African Journal of Neurodiversity aims to advance knowledge of neurodiversity and neurodiverse individuals from an Afrocentric perspective,” Maile said.

He said the journal would publish research, case studies, policy briefs and practical tools focused on neurodevelopmental conditions within the African context.

“These contributions will help us better understand neurodiversity in our communities and improve support for individuals and families,” he said.

The initiative is supported through partnerships with the universities of Johannesburg, Pretoria and the North-West, as well as organisations such as Autism South Africa and other stakeholders in the health and education sectors.

Maile said the move also responded to the shortage of African-led research in the field of autism and neurodiversity.

“While the majority of autistic individuals live in low- and middle-income countries, very little research originates from regions such as sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.

“[A]pproximately 95% of low autistic individuals live in low -and middle- income countries, [but] less than 1% of global autism research originates from regions such as sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.

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“This has led to an over-reliance on Western models that do not always reflect our cultural and linguistic realities.”

Maile said the Gauteng government had expanded access to education and support services for autistic learners.

“As of 2026, there are eight autism-specific schools in the province, with four located in townships,” Maile said.

He said resources provided at these schools included curriculum kits, autism-specific playground equipment, therapeutic and sensory regulation equipment, access to social workers for parents, and skills development programmes.

He added that 35 special schools support autistic learners through dedicated units or inclusive programmes.

“To date, over 5,000 parents, educators and community members have been trained in autism awareness, teaching strategies and behaviour management,” he said.

Four schools — Futura Special School, Randburg Clinic School, Via Nova School and Curamus School for Autism — have been designated as resource centres and are implementing a parent support programme developed by the World Health Organisation.

“We are working to ensure that parents and communities are equipped to support autistic individuals where they live,” Maile said.

Maile said 60 parents were expected to complete a 13-week programme that would equip them to become support champions within their communities.

“We must move beyond awareness towards acceptance and inclusion, as emphasised by the United Nations,” he said.

“Our goal is to build a society where autistic and other neurodiverse individuals can thrive.”

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The Gauteng education department will appoint a law firm to investigate the collapse of a school wall that killed an 8-year-old learner at Lerutle Primary School in Daveyton, it said on Monday.

Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane announced the investigation during a visit to the family of Grade 3 learner Lwazi Motuse in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni.

The department said the independent probe would seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collapse, in which five other learners were injured.

“We convey our sincerest condolences to the bereaved family. We remain committed to supporting the family and the entire Lerutle Primary School community during this deeply difficult time,” Chiloane said.

The department said it continued to provide psycho-social support to affected learners, teachers and the bereaved family. It confirmed that all other learners injured in the incident had since been discharged from hospital.

The wall collapse is the second fatal school incident this year to trigger an external investigation by Chiloane.

On 18 March, the MEC formally introduced a law firm to investigate the death of 10-year-old Milton Neo Mokgoatsane, a Grade 5 learner at Reagile Primary School in Winnie Mandela, Tembisa, after a goal post fell on him during break time in February.

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The Vodacom Foundation, supported by the Gauteng Department of Education, has invested R2 million in the School of Excellence model at Usizolwethu Special Needs School in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, to strengthen digital learning for pupils with intellectual disabilities.

Vodacom said the investment would equip the school with advanced information and communications technology infrastructure, including a fully installed local area network and special needs equipment.

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The upgrades will also include renovated learning laboratories, a secure storage facility, reliable connectivity and a solar power solution to support uninterrupted learning.

The school will also benefit from the development of a vegetable garden intended to promote nutrition and sustainability within the school community.

“We are very pleased to be launching another School of Excellence. This partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration in creating a better, more inclusive, and sustainable future,” said Director of External Affairs for Vodacom South Africa, Taki Netshitenzhe,.

“Public-private partnerships like this are effective in addressing societal challenges at scale and building pathways for young people to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.”

According to Vodacom, it has invested more than R40 million in 39 Schools of Excellence across South Africa to date, supporting major infrastructure upgrades such as connected learning centres, improved safety measures, sanitation upgrades, the removal of pit latrines and repairs to damaged school infrastructure.

The programme currently supports about 40,000 learners across the 39 schools nationwide. Vodacom said each School of Excellence is strategically located alongside an Early Childhood Development Centre, a Teacher Centre and a Vodacom ICT Academy to create a support ecosystem for learners, educators and surrounding communities.

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Usizolwethu Special Needs School principal Nombulelo Skosana welcomed the partnership, saying it would significantly enhance learning opportunities for the school’s learners.

“We are profoundly grateful to Vodacom for the partnership and the immense opportunities this educational ecosystem will unlock for our learners, educators, and the wider Daveyton community,” Skosana said.

“The infrastructure, connectivity, and support systems implemented by Vodacom with the support of the Gauteng Education Department will greatly enrich our teaching and learning environment, preparing our students to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

The investment comes as South Africa’s special needs education sector continues to face systemic pressures.

Last month, Inside Education spoke to Jackie Selley, an occupational therapist and principal at the Centre for Autism, Research and Education (CARE), a private and independent special needs school in Orange Grove, Johannesburg.

The centre supports children with autism from 18 months to 21-years-old.

Selley said many learners arrive at CARE after struggling in mainstream or remedial schools, or after spending years at home without adequate support following their diagnosis.

“Let’s say parents realise their child’s different at three, and by the time we get them into a school that can support them at seven, we’ve lost four years of supporting their development,” she said.

“The process isn’t streamlined enough to help these children and these families. We’re losing three years of a child’s life.”

According to Selley, the main solution lies in stronger investment in human resources, including more therapists, educational psychologists and specialised schools.

“If the government were able to allocate more money to human resources, there could be enough therapists, more special needs schools, and well-trained educational psychologists at schools,” she said.

“The solution lies not in sympathy, but in investment.”

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She added that accessing diagnosis and school placement can be a long and expensive process for many families.

It was reported that diagnosis through Gauteng provincial hospitals can take between six months and a year, while educational psychologist assessments, often required for school placement, can cost between R3,000 and R12,000.

Even after those steps, placements in special needs schools can take an additional one to two years because of long waiting lists.

Selley said that autism-specific schools remain limited outside Gauteng, with provinces such as Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal facing particularly long waiting lists.

Vodacom said its Daveyton initiative forms part of its long-term commitment to inclusive, quality education and support for the government’s Education Vision 2030.

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The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said on Wednesday that 8.5% (33,650) of applications for the 2026 placement of Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners through its Online Admissions System were submitted during the late application period from December 17, 2025, to January 30, 2026.

The department said that about 484 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners had remained unplaced in Ekurhuleni, specifically in Tembisa and Kempton Park, but that by Tuesday, March 3, all remaining learners were successfully placed at alternative schools in their respective areas.

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“In numbers, the total figure of Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners placed for the 2026 academic year through Gauteng’s Online Admissions system is 392,224,” the department said.

“The main application period, which ran from July 24 to August 5, 2025, accounts for most of these placements.”

The department said schools will implement catch-up programmes to help learners recover lost curriculum time.

GDE MEC Matome Chiloane said the online admissions system remains a key tool in transforming access to education.

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“We are pleased to have successfully placed all applicants who applied online,” Chiloane said.

“However, we are determined to improve the system to ease some of the frustrations encountered during this process.”

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The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said it is finalising the appointment of a law firm to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of a Grade R boy learner from Bernard Isaacs Primary School in Coronationville, Johannesburg.

It said the firm will be formally introduced to the bereaved family and the school community by Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane on Tuesday.

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The boy died on Monday, the department said. He reportedly sustained injuries while on the school premises and was later hospitalised. The parents were notified later the same day that their child had died.

The department said the law firm would establish the full facts and circumstances surrounding the incident, and would ensure transparency in the process.

Chiloane visited the family on Friday to offer condolences and support during their “unimaginably painful period”.

“We stand with the family in their time of sorrow and will continue to provide the necessary support as investigations proceed,” he said.

He said the department was committed to ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation.

“It is important that we allow an independent process to unfold so that the family and the broader school community can have clarity on what transpired,” he said.

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The Gauteng Education Department (GED) is in talks with public scholar transport operators to settle outstanding payments after some service providers halted operations on Monday, leaving learners stranded and contributing to low attendance at several schools.

The disruption comes just weeks after a fatal scholar transport crash in the Vaal area in mid-January, when a minibus transporting pupils collided with a truck near Vanderbijlpark, leaving 14 schoolchildren dead, and the driver of the minibus charged with murder.

The GDE said in a statement that it acknowledged the “challenges” currently affecting the GDE Scholar Transport Programme, which led to some providers stopping work on Monday.

The department said it was “actively engaging” with operators to address unpaid invoices.

“We appeal to service providers to provide a continuous, uninterrupted transportation of all learners under the programme as we work tirelessly within available financial processes to finalise payments accordingly,” the department said.

It advised schools to use appropriate academic recovery measures to ensure that teaching and learning remained on track until the matter was resolved.

“We remain committed to collaboration and constructive engagements with our stakeholders in resolving any matters that may arise. To this end, we encourage all our stakeholders to always engage with us on issues they face within the sector,” said Education MEC Matome Chiloane.

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