SEDIBENG.- Learners in Gauteng have lost 8 925 school days this year because of electricity disconnections at public schools across the province.

The disconnections are made by either national electricity supplier, Eskom, or local municipalities.

This astounding figure comes from a recent written reply by Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) MEC Lebogang Maile to questions asked by the DA in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

In an annexure, attached to the reply, some local schools on the list have been affected by electricity cut-offs by Eskom in 2025/2026, these include:

•             Sizanani Secondary School

•            Lakeside Estate Primary

•            Letsemeng Primary

•            Qedilizwe Secondary

•            Jordan Secondary

•            Mohaladitoe Secondary

•            Esokwazi Secondary

•            Beverly Hills Secondary

•            Katleho-Impumelelo Secondary

•            Pitseng Primary

•            Fukama Primary

•            Setjhaba Sohle

The DA said that this reveals the department initially misled the public by denying that electricity cuts were happening and affecting learning.

Smartboards and computers could not be used, photocopiers and internet connectivity were affected.

“When learners were denied access to quality education because lessons were disrupted, smartboards and computers could not be used, photocopiers and internet connectivity were affected, security systems were compromised and, in many cases, learners were forced to learn in unsafe and unsuitable conditions,” Michael Waters MPL – DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Education said.

When asked about helping schools that struggle to pay service providers, Maile explained that the department supports and oversees schools according to the Schools Act.

School finances are managed by School Governing Bodies (SGB’s) and School Management Teams (SMT’s).

Maile said that the department advises these bodies to prioritise essential services in their budgets.

“Accordingly, the department’s assistance is directed at preventing avoidable service disruption, providing sound financial management and ensuring that schools act within the law when dealing with service providers,” Maile added.

However, the DA pointed out that while the department claims to provide oversight, it admitted in another reply that it does not keep a central register of outstanding debts owed to service providers, how long those debts have lasted, or what caused them.

“How can the department intervene before schools lose essential services if it doesn’t know which are financially distressed? Surely, it cannot claim effective oversight while admitting it lacks the information needed to identify schools at risk of financial collapse,” the party questioned.

On Monday, Maile warned municipalities that any school disconnected over unpaid electricity bills must be reconnected immediately, or the provincial government will consider legal action.

Speaking at a media briefing, Maile called the disconnections reckless and irresponsible, adding that municipalities should not treat schools as easy targets for collecting revenue.

Maile noted that the department gives schools funding to pay for water and electricity, though the money available to individual schools remains limited. He also mentioned that some schools have complained about being overcharged by municipalities, while others have struggled to get electricity meters.

Meanwhile, upon enquiry about the disconnections, Mmadika Mofokeng, from the GDE said that there is no school that has been disconnected due to non-payment of municipality bills in Sedibeng.