Overview
- Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube convened urgent talks in Durban, after which Premier Thami Ntuli moved to establish a special task team.
- The department operates the country’s largest school system with more than two million learners, heightening the impact of the funding gap.
- Provincial Treasury has taken control of the department’s finances following concerns about mismanagement, unpaid providers and teacher stipends, and ECD centre closures.
- Immediate priorities identified include safeguarding school transfers to poor schools, securing learning and teaching materials, and stabilising scholar transport.
- Oversight measures now include a premier-led troika and a technical working group, with audits targeting ghost employees and learners and continued support pledged by the minister.