Gauteng Education denies power cuts at Ekurhuleni schools amid R110m debt

The Gauteng Department of Education has broken its silence following reports that multiple schools across the City of Ekurhuleni face electricity disconnections due to unpaid municipal bills.

The issue, which has raised concerns about disruptions to teaching and learning, particularly at no-fee schools in lower quintiles, comes amid mounting arrears reportedly exceeding R110m across the metro.

While earlier information suggested that several schools had already been cut off, the department disputes this, saying it was alerted to the municipality’s credit control measures earlier this month and has since engaged to resolve the matter.

The department says no schools in the city have been disconnected, attributes unpaid bills to rising tariffs, and places responsibility for payments on School Governing Bodies (SGBs), citing legislative provisions.

The metro had not responded to a list of questions sent prior to the publication of the original article.

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Below is the department’s response, presented in a Q&A format:

Q: Can the department confirm whether it was aware of the electricity disconnection, and when it became aware of the issue?

A: The department can confirm that the municipality forwarded the disconnection notice on March 9. However, no school has been cut off from municipal services. Schools will pay their outstanding accounts accordingly.

Q: Are municipal service accounts for the affected schools the responsibility of the department, and if so, why are there outstanding payments?

A: The responsibility of paying municipal accounts lies with SGBs.

Q: What is the total amount owed to the municipality, and over what period have the arrears accumulated?

A: Not readily available currently.

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Q: What factors contributed to the non-payment?

A: Annual increases imposed by municipalities in their tariffs.

Q: Were any engagements held with the municipality to prevent the disconnection or to negotiate payment arrangements?

A: Yes, engagements were held to resolve this matter.

Q: What immediate measures has the department put in place to ensure continuity of teaching and learning at the affected schools?

A: The department will provide necessary support to the affected schools.

Q: What urgent steps are being taken to resolve the matter and restore the electricity supply?

A: Accordingly, the department has issued circular 07 of 2025 giving directives to SGBs on how to manage the municipal payments and any administrative processes thereof.

Q: Who within the department is accountable for ensuring that municipal services to schools are paid on time?
A: SGBs.

Q: What measures will be implemented to prevent similar disruptions at schools in future?

A: SGBs are allocated functions for payment of municipal services according to SASA Section 21.1(d) and augment the funds provided by the department as per Section 36 of the act.

The department mediates all municipal related issues through quarterly engagements with Provincial Treasury, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and municipalities.