The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Education is in the grip of a financial crisis that is threatening the functionality of the province’s education system. With over 80% of its R65.8 billion budget allocated to employee compensation, only 7% is left for operational needs, infrastructure maintenance, learning materials, and critical services. The effects of this imbalance are now being felt in classrooms, kitchens, and communities across KZN.
Thousands of teacher posts are at risk, learners are being deprived of daily meals, and service providers are battling delayed payments. According to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, the crisis could result in the loss of nearly 19,000 teaching posts in the province. Since the 2021/2022 financial year, the department has already cut over 4,200 posts, and nearly 8,700 vacancies remain unfilled as of December 2024.
The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), which feeds over two million learners daily, has been severely affected. Numerous service providers have reported non-payment of invoices dating back to March and April, placing their operations—and learners’ food security—at serious risk. The National School Nutrition Programme Service Providers Association says the department has failed to honour multiple payment commitments, despite issuing official circulars assuring timely payment. This has created widespread disruptions in meal delivery across the province, even as the department claims otherwise in public statements.
Amid growing public outrage and the threat to children’s well-being, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in KZN has issued a strong call for immediate intervention. Last week, the Department of Education’s conduct was flagged in the National Assembly under Section 18 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), which is triggered when a provincial department is in persistent non-compliance with financial legislation. The clause allows for direct national intervention and is considered a serious red flag.
The DA has warned that if corrective measures are not implemented immediately, it will support the full invocation of Section 18 and any associated constitutional remedies—including placing the KZN Department of Education under administration. The party argues that the situation has moved beyond a financial issue and is now both a humanitarian and constitutional crisis caused by poor leadership and a toxic culture of evasion and misinformation.
In a formal letter submitted to Acting KZN Education Portfolio Committee Chairperson Hlengiwe Mavimbela, the DA has requested an urgent special Legislature Sitting. The purpose of this emergency session is to:
Secure full disclosure of all unpaid accruals as at 31 March 2025
Hear directly from Provincial Treasury on the sustainability of the DoE’s financial commitments
Seek legal opinion on the DoE’s ongoing violations of the PFMA
Demand accountability from department leadership for misleading both the portfolio committee and the public.
Develop a recovery plan to ensure all KZN learners receive meals without further delay
According to Sakhile Mngadi, DA KZN Spokesperson on Education, the department has made financial commitments that it cannot legally or fiscally uphold. He further accused the department of deliberately misleading oversight structures and the public by presenting an inaccurate picture of stability.
The Public Servants Association (PSA) echoed these concerns, criticising the government’s fiscal irresponsibility, lack of planning, and failure to act against corrupt contractors. The PSA has called for a full investigation and immediate prosecution of those responsible for the misuse of public funds.
In response to the mounting pressure, KZN Head of Education Nkosinathi Ngcobo has admitted that the department is battling severe financial strain due to wage increases not fully funded by National Treasury. With the majority of the budget consumed by salaries, little is left for basic services, let alone emergency needs.
As schools continue to operate under constrained conditions, stakeholders across the province and nation are watching closely. Without urgent intervention, thousands of learners, educators, and support staff will continue to suffer the consequences of what has now become a full-blown crisis.
