The Gauteng education sector is in crisis as over 100 schools across the province face electricity and water disconnections due to unpaid municipal utility bills nearing R60 million. This escalating problem is severely disrupting teaching and learning. It is particularly evident in underprivileged communities.
ALSO READ: School Principal at Pretoria Girls High Found Guilty of Misconduct
Unpaid Utility Bills and Service Disconnections
According to the Democratic Alliance (DA), more than R58 million in outstanding municipal bills have led to widespread utility cutoffs. These cutoffs are affecting schools in Tshwane’s southern, western, and northern districts. Schools in areas such as Hammanskraal, Winterveldt, Mabopane, Ga-Rankuwa, Temba, and Laudium are among those impacted. The unpaid debts have resulted in classrooms being plunged into darkness. Water and sanitation services are also being cut off. Teachers are struggling to conduct lessons without basic resources.
Policy Shifts and Financial Burden on No-Fee Schools
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has shifted the responsibility for paying utility bills and historical municipal debts to no-fee schools. This move has sparked outrage. Many of these schools serve disadvantaged communities lacking the financial capacity to cover these costs. The DA has called for an immediate reversal of this policy. They describe it as unjust and damaging to learners’ constitutional right to basic education.
Letters sent to schools in March 2025 instructed them to manage municipal accounts. They were also told to fundraise to cover shortfalls from April 2025. However, the GDE has been criticized for failing to consult schools adequately. It also failed to provide the necessary support and training to manage these financial responsibilities.
Scale of the Debt and Government Response
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi revealed that public schools in the province owe municipalities over R262 million in unpaid utility bills. This includes R192 million owed by Section 21 schools, which are managed by School Governing Bodies. Additionally, R69 million is owed by non-Section 21 schools, which the department manages directly.
Lesufi has urged municipalities to suspend service disconnections during critical academic periods. This includes examination times. Such action is needed to avoid further disruption to learners’ education. Despite this, municipalities like City Power and the City of Tshwane have proceeded with cutting electricity to non-paying schools and areas. They aim to recover revenue and combat illegal connections.
Impact on Learning and Calls for Accountability
The utility debt crisis has forced some schools to close temporarily. Others have sent pupils home due to a lack of electricity and water. The DA has condemned the GDE’s handling of the crisis as neglectful and damaging. They demand urgent intervention and accountability from the education department.
The department has acknowledged the financial constraints causing the non-payment of bills. They committed to settling arrears. For example, in Ekurhuleni, the department promised to clear outstanding debts between April and June 2025. This led to the restoration of electricity to affected schools.
CHECK OUT: DBE & EU Launch Entrepreneurship Program in Schools to Combat Youth Unemployment in South Africa
Policy Reform
The mounting utility debt and resulting service disconnections in Gauteng schools pose a serious threat to the quality of education. These issues particularly affect vulnerable learners. Reversing policies that place financial burdens on no-fee schools is critical. Ensuring timely payment of municipal accounts is also essential to safeguarding uninterrupted learning. The Gauteng Department of Education faces increasing pressure to resolve this crisis and restore essential services to schools across the province.
