The future of Pro Nobis School for Learners with Special Needs hangs in the balance following the government’s continued failure to pay subsidies owed to the institution.

On Monday morning, parents and teachers held a protest at the school, vowing not to reopen for the fourth term until the Department of Education settles its outstanding payments. The school gates remain locked.

A representative from the local education office at the scene claimed the department had not received the required documentation from the school’s governing body, delaying the quarterly subsidy payments. Governing body members, however, strongly disputed this explanation.

More than 300 learners — including day-scholars and boarders from towns such as Dundee, Nquthu, Vryheid, Nongoma, Msinga, and even as far afield as Mpumalanga and the Free State — could be affected if the school remains closed.

Funding delays cripple essential services

According to Pro Nobis governing body spokesperson Sicelo Madondo, the school’s finances have been unstable since the start of the current financial year.
“The first payment, due in April, was only received in July. The second tranche, expected in July, is still outstanding, as is the third, which should have been paid earlier this month,” said Madondo.

He added that without the funds, the school has been unable to pay for vital services such as electricity, telephones, insurance and security, and that staff salaries remain in arrears.
“This situation places the school at risk of closure or becoming non-operational,” he warned.

Madondo expressed concern about the impact on families if the school is forced to close.
“Parents will be forced to hire nannies to care for their children at their own cost. Many will also lose access to the nutrition programme, which ensures children receive regular meals. There’s also a real fear of neglect or abuse when children are left unsupervised while parents work,” he said.

He emphasised that Pro Nobis is not alone in facing such challenges — the funding delays are part of a wider provincial crisis affecting all special needs schools across KwaZulu-Natal.

The matter has reportedly been raised at both provincial and national conferences of the South African National Association of Special Education (SANASE), and consultations have taken place with various government departments, including Provincial Treasury, the MEC for Education, and the head of department.

Despite these efforts, the issue remains unresolved.
The Department of Education has been approached several times for comment, but no response was received at the time of going to print.

Similar protests were also held on Monday at a special school in Nquthu, where funding has likewise not been allocated.

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