Education department needs R46bn for new classrooms and toilets at public schools
On Tuesday, the minister of basic education, Siviwe Gwarube, appeared before Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Basic Education to provide an update on the conditions at South Africa's public schools.
Gwarube revealed that 90% of 22,381 schools were in fair, very good or good condition. Eight percent were in poor condition, and 2% in very poor condition. She said that 8,222 schools needed new classrooms, and 13,485 additional toilets needed to be constructed.
'We are talking about more than just buildings and new schools; we have a new phenomenon of overcrowded classrooms … or schools with not enough classrooms, and … this is something that we really need to resolve. Over 8,222 schools still require additional classrooms, and that is estimated at R32-billion.'
She continued: '13,485 schools require additional toilets to cope with the rising number of learners … and that would require about R14-billion.'
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) said that for the current financial year, it had only R15,285,220 for the Education Infrastructure Grant, which was less than what was needed to resolve these issues.
Daily Maverick previously reported that in the face of overwhelming workloads, safety concerns and a lack of support, many teachers are reconsidering their future in the profession.
Safe sanitation
After missing the deadline to eradicate pit toilets by 31 March, the DBE told the committee that the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (Safe) programme, which was launched in 2018 to provide adequate sanitation facilities at schools, would be terminated at the end of this financial year. The programme has eradicated 3,235 pit toilets, with 137 still to be attended to.
Ramasedi Mafoko, the acting chief director for infrastructure at the DBE, said, 'As the Safe initiative is coming to an end, we are no longer taking any new projects; we will give them over to the provincial education departments with a clear instruction that sanitation is an immediate priority. So any pit latrines identified are given over to the province.'
The DBE told the committee that 206 schools out of 22,381 had inappropriate structures, referring to ageing structures, schools built of mud or those that need repairing.
Turning to its successes, the DBE said it had helped schools get increased access to water and electricity, had built 1,344 new schools and provided 12,797 schools with libraries. DM
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'The regulations on admissions, for example, refer to taking into account the demographics and education needs of the 'surrounding community'. In the Bela Act the responsibility for admission policy lies with the head of department (HOD) and is based on the 'broader Education Districts'. This potentially reinforces local demographic homogeneity, contrary to the type of inclusivity the Act intended,' said Maimela. While the BELA Act refers to the broader community in the education district in which the public school is situated, the gazetted regulations instead use the term 'feeder zones' to manage learner numbers and coordinate parental preferences. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The introduction of 'feeder zones' in the regulations deviates from the BELA Act, which references 'education districts', said Maimela. 'This, points to keeping previously disadvantaged learners out via location. Historically it has been linked to exclusion. It seems these regulations are attempting to re-write the Bela Act and re-introduce matters that were unsuccessfully contested in the Bela Act legislative drafting process,' Maimela added. Sadtu said they were still studying the regulations and intended to make their submissions on or before the deadline. 'In June this year, the Minister released guidelines for the implementation of the BELA Act, a move that SADTU strongly rejected as the Act does not empower the Minister to issue implementation guidelines. The Minister is only allowed to make regulations. SADTU viewed the issuing of guidelines as an attempt to sow confusion, delay the implementation of the Act and advance the DA's political agenda against the full implementation of Sections 4 and 5. SADTU will exercise extreme vigilance to ensure that the regulations align strictly with the letter and spirit of the BELA Act,' the union said. GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron said Gwarube cannot use the regulations to introduce concepts that undermine or "limit the rights created by Parliament through legislation". Herron added that school language policies remain among the most contested and politically weaponised tools used to preserve historical privilege. 'Regulations must not be allowed to reinforce this. BELA was meant to reform outdated admissions and language policy frameworks and dismantle the spatial, linguistic, and racial barriers that persist in South Africa's public education system. However, the wording of the regulations does not reflect that intention. Instead, the Minister has selectively chosen language that risks entrenching exclusion,' said Herron. Parents for Equal Education South Africa (PEESA) said the organisation had mixed feelings, while they did not seek to strip School Governing Bodies (SGBs) of their power entirely, they believed that reform was necessary to enforce accountability where it had long been lacking. 'The Western Cape was the only province that took real issue with the Bella Bill, they call it centralisation of power, (but it's) because they didn't want to be held accountable for the exclusion, discrimination that they have embraced for far too long. The Bella Bill forces them to account, now we will address real issues such as inequalities, they can't hide behind an SGB anymore. Because for far too long former model C schools have gotten away with the violation of the rights to basic education for all learners,' said PEESA founder Vanessa Le Roux. While Gwarube's office did not respond to requests for comment by deadline, the draft regulations are available on the Department of Basic Education's website and in the Government Gazette No. 53119 and 53120 of 6 August 2025. Comments on the draft regulations must be made by September 30 via AdmissionRegz@ Cape Times
