GDE wastes money on school rent despite owning more than 120 abandoned schools

24 August 2023

Instead of the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) fixing over 120 abandoned schools in the province, they are paying monthly rent for 20 schools. This is a waste of much-needed funds that could be used to renovate and refurbish some of the closed schools.

Phoenix Secondary School, formerly known as Hoer Tegniese Skool in Duncanville, Vereeniging, is one of many schools where the department is paying millions of rands for rent for a property that used to be owned by the department.

This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, in a written reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

See attachments here and here.

The MEC failed to disclose the monthly rent per school.

It is unacceptable that rent is being paid, yet there are so many closed and abandoned schools in the province that can be renovated and used for learning and teaching.

The DA has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to get a full disclosure of how much the department is paying a month for rent per school. Gauteng residents need to know how much the department spends on rent for schools to ensure value for money.

Issued by Khume Ramulifho, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, 24 August 2023