In Conversation With Michael Waters, DA Gauteng spokesperson for Education
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The Democratic Alliance has formally submitted a petition with more than 16,000 signatures to the Gauteng Education Portfolio Committee, calling for the immediate reversal of the Gauteng Provincial Government’s 64% budget cuts to Quintile 5 public schools. The petition, launched in January 2026, follows concerns raised by schools, parents, and communities over the impact of reduced funding on the province’s education system.
According to the DA, visits to several schools across Gauteng revealed that the budget reductions are already severely affecting the ability of schools to function effectively. Schools are reportedly struggling to cover operational costs such as electricity, municipal services, infrastructure maintenance, toilet repairs, learner support programmes, and extracurricular activities.
School principals and governing bodies have also expressed concern that the financial burden placed on schools and parents is becoming unsustainable, particularly amid increasing municipal costs and broader economic pressures facing households.
In its petition, the DA is calling on the Gauteng Department of Education and the Gauteng Provincial Government to reverse the 64% budget cuts to Quintile 5 schools, prevent further reductions in school funding, prioritise education spending over what it describes as wasteful expenditure, and engage directly with schools, parents, and communities on the ongoing financial challenges affecting schools.
The party says the petition reflects growing public dissatisfaction with the handling of education funding under the Gauteng government led by Premier Panyaza Lesufi. The DA argues that the cuts are negatively affecting classroom conditions, learner safety, educational quality, and the overall functioning of schools.
The matter is now expected to be considered by the Gauteng Education Portfolio Committee in line with the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s petition processes, which require the committee to assess the impact of the cuts on schools, learners, and parents across the province.
According to the DA, visits to several schools across Gauteng revealed that the budget reductions are already severely affecting the ability of schools to function effectively. Schools are reportedly struggling to cover operational costs such as electricity, municipal services, infrastructure maintenance, toilet repairs, learner support programmes, and extracurricular activities.
School principals and governing bodies have also expressed concern that the financial burden placed on schools and parents is becoming unsustainable, particularly amid increasing municipal costs and broader economic pressures facing households.
In its petition, the DA is calling on the Gauteng Department of Education and the Gauteng Provincial Government to reverse the 64% budget cuts to Quintile 5 schools, prevent further reductions in school funding, prioritise education spending over what it describes as wasteful expenditure, and engage directly with schools, parents, and communities on the ongoing financial challenges affecting schools.
The party says the petition reflects growing public dissatisfaction with the handling of education funding under the Gauteng government led by Premier Panyaza Lesufi. The DA argues that the cuts are negatively affecting classroom conditions, learner safety, educational quality, and the overall functioning of schools.
The matter is now expected to be considered by the Gauteng Education Portfolio Committee in line with the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s petition processes, which require the committee to assess the impact of the cuts on schools, learners, and parents across the province.
