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The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) admitted that it can guarantee that billions of rands will be paid towards e-toll debt to “honour their contractual obligation”, but it cannot guarantee when public schools will receive the money owed to them, making it clear that its priority lies in settling the e-toll debt over keeping our schools running and being able to provide quality education to all children in our province.

This emerged this week in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) when the Democratic Alliance (DA) challenged Gauteng MEC for Finance, Nkululeko Dunga, over the government’s failure to fully fund the first tranche of Norms and Standards owed to public schools. This funding is crucial for schools to keep the lights on, pay municipal accounts, maintain classrooms, and pay service providers.

When asked for a specific date by which funds would be available to settle the outstanding first tranche, the MEC could not provide a date. When asked when sufficient funds would be available for the second tranche, he could give no date. And when asked to guarantee that the second tranche would be paid in full and would not again be delayed by Gauteng’s cash-flow crisis, he could give no guarantee. Therefore, no dates. No guarantees. No certainty. And, most importantly, no money for our schools.

Yet when challenged over the billions being paid towards e-toll debt, the MEC defended those payments, asserting that the GPG has a contractual obligation to pay them.

Gauteng's public schools were supposed to receive their first tranche of funding for Norms and Standards on or before 15 May 2026. Instead, they received only 25% of the amount due, resulting in a shortfall of R1.87 billion. Meanwhile, the Gauteng government found R9.282 billion in just two years to contribute towards e-toll debt.

This exposes this provincial government's misplaced priorities. When it comes to the failed e-toll system, its financial obligations are apparently non-negotiable. But when it comes to funding public schools, the same government offers excuses, delays, and no certainty.

The DA demands that the GPG get its priorities in order, urgently pay the outstanding first tranche to schools in full, and provide a provincial government guarantee that the second tranche will be paid in full and on time.

We further reject the MEC’s attempt to dismiss legitimate questions about school funding as “political games.” Nothing is amusing about schools not knowing when they will receive the money they need to function, and principals having to worry about municipal accounts, service providers, and keeping their schools operational.

A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would put schools first. We would ensure Norms and Standards allocations are paid on time, strengthen provincial cash-flow planning so schools are not used to plug Treasury shortfalls, and ring-fence funding for essential services such as electricity, water, maintenance, and learning materials.

Issued by DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Education Michael Waters MPL -