Gauteng Schools in Crisis: 120+ Institutions Without Funding as Unpaid Subsidies Threaten Education Access

Gauteng Province, South Africa, MMN Correspondent: What happens when the money that keeps a school running simply stops coming? That is the question facing hundreds of public schools across Gauteng right now. As of June 2026, the Gauteng Education Department has failed to disburse the first installment of annual provincial subsidies for the 2026/27 academic year. For schools in quintiles 1 to 3, which serve historically disadvantaged communities, this funding is not a luxury. It pays for teacher salaries, textbooks, electricity, water, and basic maintenance. Without it, the doors may not stay open.

The first payment was due in May 2026. It never arrived. The next scheduled disbursement is not until November. That leaves a gap of nearly six months. School administrators and educators are now asking a difficult question: can we survive until then? For many, the answer is uncertain. Some schools have already started fundraising campaigns, reaching out to local communities and even using crowdfunding platforms to cover essentials. This is not how a public education system should operate.

Interestingly, the problem is not limited to low quintile schools. Even quintile 5 institutions, which typically receive additional support from parental contributions and municipal funding, are feeling the strain. This suggests something deeper is at play. The Gauteng Education Department receives roughly 45% of the provincial budget, the largest share of any department. Yet the money is not reaching the schools. The disconnect between budget allocation and actual delivery points to a systemic issue in how funds are managed and distributed.

Recent policy changes have added to the confusion. The department reduced subsidies for quintile 5 schools, framing it as a way to redirect resources to more vulnerable institutions. In theory, that sounds reasonable. In practice, it has created instability. Many quintile 5 schools had built their budgets around consistent state support. When that support was cut, they had to make tough choices: staff layoffs, program reductions, and delayed maintenance. Instead of improving equity, the move has left everyone uncertain about what comes next.

The ripple effects go beyond cash flow. Infrastructure projects have stalled. Over 80 new school construction projects are on hold due to lack of funding. Existing schools are coping with overcrowded classrooms, aging buildings, and missing facilities like science labs and libraries. A 2025 report from the South African Institute of Race Relations found that nearly 40% of public schools in Gauteng reported structural problems, including leaking roofs, broken plumbing, and unsafe electrical systems. These are not new issues. They are symptoms of a system that has been underfunded and under managed for years.

Teachers are feeling the pressure too. In some schools, educators have gone weeks without pay. Principals are trying to keep morale high while managing increasingly difficult conditions. It is a heavy burden. The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus), an opposition party in Gauteng, has called the situation a national embarrassment. On June 23, 2026, Adv Anton Alberts issued a statement demanding an independent audit of the Education Department’s finances and a complete overhaul of its internal processes. He stressed that cost cutting should happen at central and district levels, not at the expense of schools that serve children directly.

The VF Plus has also launched a public hotline and digital portal for schools that have received partial or no subsidies. The goal is to collect real time data from affected institutions and use that information to push for action. So far, over 120 schools in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Johannesburg have reported in. The data reveals clear regional disparities in how funds are distributed, raising further questions about fairness and oversight.

Experts point to several root causes. There is no digitized financial tracking system, making it hard to see where money goes once it leaves the department. Bureaucratic delays and inter departmental conflicts slow down approvals. And there are signs of misappropriation in some districts, though no formal investigations have been launched. Without transparency, it is difficult to know whether the problem is a lack of funds or a failure to manage them.

Education advocates are calling for structural reforms. One proposal is the creation of a dedicated School Funding Oversight Board with the power to audit expenditures, enforce payment timelines, and publish quarterly performance reports. Another idea is to integrate school level financial data into a centralized dashboard that parents, teachers, and oversight bodies can access. These are practical steps that could rebuild trust and ensure that money reaches its intended destination.

This crisis is not just a Gauteng problem. If left unaddressed, it could set a precedent for other provinces facing similar challenges. South Africa’s national education budget is under increasing pressure, and the need for transparency, accountability, and strategic resource allocation has never been more urgent. The 2026/27 academic year is still unfolding, and the future of thousands of learners hangs in the balance. The question now is whether the government will take decisive action rooted in integrity and fairness, or allow systemic neglect to continue undermining the nation’s most vital institution: public education.