Note to Editors: Please note Sakhile Mngadi, MPL sound bites in English and isiZulu
The DA welcomes reports that KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Department of Education (DoE) has finally paid outstanding subsidies owed to schools across the province, along with the very overdue July Norms and Standards tranche which is almost three months late.
While this development comes as a relief to hundreds of schools that have been struggling to keep their doors open, these payments did not happen due to the DoE’s goodwill or efficiency. Instead, they are a direct result of sustained pressure by the DA, both publicly and within the KZN Legislature.
For months, the DA has exposed the devastating impact of these funding delays – from schools unable to pay staff, to feeding schemes interrupted, and learners left without essential resources. We raised this matter repeatedly with Education MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, tabled formal parliamentary questions and issued formal correspondence demanding urgent action.
While it is encouraging to see that the DoE has finally acted, the September tranche remains outstanding and schools cannot afford another round of excuses or bureaucratic inertia. The DA, as a partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), will continue to monitor this closely to ensure that this payment is made without delay and that future disbursements follow the legally prescribed schedule.
Our schools deserve predictability and accountability, not last-minute interventions driven by political pressure. KZN’s DoE must institutionalise sound financial management and respect the rights of learners and educators to a stable, functional schooling environment.