Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
15 June 2025

Gauteng Education Dept Shifts R300m Utility Debt to Schools, Sparking Outrage and Fears of Service Cuts. 📸 ActionSA

ActionSA has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a “devastating betrayal” by the Gauteng Department of Education, following revelations that over R300 million in utility debt has been transferred to already-overburdened schools, many of them in the poorest communities.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, ActionSA’s John Moodey condemned the decision, saying, “This is a clear example of the provincial government’s failure to prioritise the needs of learners, educators, and parents.”

Previously, the department was responsible for footing the bill for utilities such as rates, water, and electricity. But under a new directive, schools are now expected to manage and pay for their own municipal services. “My concern is especially for quintile one schools, the non-fee-paying ones,” Moodey stated. “These schools serve the most vulnerable communities. Their parents can barely afford food, and now they’re being asked to pay for electricity and water at school.”

Moodey raised concerns about outdated school quintile classifications, pointing out that demographic shifts have not been reflected in the current funding models. “What was 20 years ago a quintile 3 or 4 school may now be functioning as a quintile 1 school,” he explained, emphasising the added strain on school leadership and families.

The impact of the policy change could be catastrophic. With unemployment rampant and households already squeezed, many schools face the real threat of losing access to basic services. “If schools can’t pay, we could very well see Eskom and municipalities cutting them off,” Moody warned. “It’s not just electricity. It’s also water, rates, and taxes.”

Moodey criticised the department’s financial mismanagement, alleging that the move is an attempt to avoid the disgrace of defaulting on creditors. “The MEC wants to dodge accountability. Now schools, which are already underfunded, are being forced to find money they don’t have.”

The party is calling for the provincial government to immediately revisit the policy. “They must square off the debt, consult school management, and if a handover is necessary, it must be phased and properly budgeted,” Moody stressed. “Dumping this on schools with no warning is deeply unfair.”

“Governments should be caring,” Moodey concluded. “This isn’t just mismanagement, it’s neglect.”

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Moulana Habib Bobat and John Moodey.