Overview
- The KwaZulu-Natal Education Department acknowledges readiness challenges three days before schools reopen and says it is working with unions on mitigation and recovery plans.
- SADTU reports that roughly half of schools have not received learning and teaching materials, citing unpaid basic allocations and delayed central procurement approvals.
- A union survey of 247 principals found 54% of schools lacked essentials such as funding, stationery, textbooks and cleaning materials, with Umkhanyakude worst affected.
- SADTU plans legal action against the provincial Education and Finance departments to compel payments and deliveries before the term begins.
- Last year the provincial Treasury imposed strict financial controls and provided an R800 million bailout, and orders were only approved in October, constraining deliveries to schools that rely on central procurement.