The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has launched a public petition opposing what it claims is a 64% cut to operational budgets at Quintile 5 public schools, sparking a sharp rebuttal from the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), which has dismissed the claims as false and misleading.
According to the DA, the proposed budget reduction, set to take effect from 1 April 2026, will have severe consequences for learners, parents and teachers at fee-paying public schools that already receive limited state support. However, the GDE insists that no such cut has been implemented, arguing instead that the changes amount to a temporary funding realignment driven by national budget constraints.
DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Education Michael Waters said the alleged reduction is not a minor adjustment but represents “a systemic dismantling of functioning public schools”. He argued that Quintile 5 schools receive no fee-exemption subsidies, infrastructure grants or additional learner support, yet are now expected to operate on what he described as barely a third of their current allocations.
“These schools rely on operational budgets to pay for essential services such as security, cleaning, electricity, water and refuse removal. A 64% reduction will force schools to pass costs directly onto parents, cut staff or abandon services altogether, turning stable public schools into financial crisis zones almost overnight,” Waters said.
Waters added that the provincial government’s priorities, pointing to increased allocations to non-core entities such as the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance, which is expected to receive close to R400 million in the 2026/27 financial year. He said this showed a preference for “red tape and political projects over classrooms, safety and learning”.
According to the statement, the DA’s petition calls on the Gauteng Provincial Government to immediately reverse the alleged cut, provide a transparent, line-by-line justification for any budget changes, and reduce wasteful expenditure elsewhere rather than in frontline education services.
In response, the Gauteng Department of Education has strongly rejected the DA’s claims, stating that no 64% funding cut to Quintile 5 schools has been implemented. The department described the allegations as “false, misleading and reckless”, saying the issue has been misrepresented despite information being made public as early as October 2025.
The GDE explained that an interim funding realignment was introduced due to severe budget reductions imposed by National Treasury, affecting all provinces. It said the adjustments align with the National Norms and Standards for School Funding issued by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and are intended to correct historical overfunding at some fee-paying schools.
According to the statement, schools were formally notified through indicative budget allocation certificates issued in September 2025, the department said, adding that the current arrangement is a temporary stabilisation measure to manage a R444 million shortfall in the current financial year and a projected R160 million shortfall over the 2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period.
Despite financial pressures, the GDE said it has prioritised protecting classrooms, ensuring uninterrupted teaching and learning, and honouring payments for Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) in full and on time.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane placed the blame squarely on national government, saying provinces are implementing national policy under constrained budgets they do not control. He accused the DA of political opportunism, noting that the Department of Basic Education is led by the DA and is fully aware of the funding pressures facing provinces.
“If there is a petition to be delivered, it should be delivered to the Department of Basic Education, which is responsible for national funding norms and allocations. Provinces cannot be scapegoated for national budget cuts imposed by National Treasury,” Chiloane said.
The GDE reiterated its commitment to transparency, equitable funding and protecting public education in Gauteng, warning that misinformation could undermine confidence in the schooling system.
