Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has sharply criticised the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), accusing it of dishonestly denying a drastic reduction in funding for Quintile 5 public schools, despite what the party says are internal documents confirming an “approximate 64 %” cut.
In a statement issued on 30 January, DA Gauteng spokesperson and MPL Michael Waters said the department’s public denial of the funding reduction is “a lie”.
“The Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) denial of the 64 % budget cut to schools is a lie,” Waters wrote. He added that official responses from Education MEC Matome Chiloane in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature confirm that allocations to Quintile 5 schools are being reduced by roughly that amount.
Quintile 5 schools are generally fee-charging public schools in higher-income areas and traditionally receive smaller government subsidies, as they are expected to raise funds through school fees. However, the DA argues that the scale of the reduction — which it describes as a cut rather than a “realignment” — will have serious consequences for learners, teachers and the day-to-day functioning of schools.
Waters said the GDE’s description of the changes as a “realignment” or “stabilisation intervention” downplays their true impact.
“This is not a ‘realignment’. It is not a ‘stabilisation intervention’. It is a cut and a devastating one at the expense of schools, teachers, and learners,” he said.
He urged parents, educators and Gauteng residents to oppose the move and sign a DA petition calling for the funding changes to be halted.
According to the DA, such a sharp reduction in government funding could force schools to significantly increase fees, cut essential services such as libraries, laboratories and security, or implement a combination of both.
The Gauteng Department of Education, however, has rejected the DA’s claims and maintains that there has been no “implemented 64 % budget cut”.
In a media statement, the department said the adjustments form part of a funding realignment to national norms and standards, rather than an arbitrary or punitive reduction.
Education MEC Matome Chiloane said the province is responding to fiscal pressure caused by national budget cuts imposed by National Treasury, which have affected all provinces.
“It must be stated clearly and without ambiguity: Gauteng’s financial pressures are the direct result of national budget cuts,” Chiloane said, adding that accusations directed at the province are “disingenuous and politically opportunistic”.
Chiloane further argued that previous engagements with the national Department of Basic Education regarding funding constraints have failed to produce meaningful relief, leaving Gauteng to manage a significant financial shortfall.
The GDE also noted that schools were informed of the changes through indicative budget allocation certificates issued in September 2025, and described the process as a temporary measure aimed at ensuring compliance with nationally prescribed funding levels while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
