KwaZulu-Natal finance MEC Francois Rodgers has pledged R295m to the embattled provincial education department to ensure the smooth running of matric exams.
At a joint media briefing in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, Rodgers announced that R281bn will go towards supporting the department, adding that additional funding from the National Treasury is also on the way.
“The R295m will be used to process matric exams papers and also to pay the markers while other funds will be used for any incurred costs in preparation for exams,” said Rodgers.
Recently, the provincial Treasury helped the department in paying for norms and standards associated with the basic functioning of schools.
Rodgers expressed concern about billions of rand spent on compensation of employees (COE) and ghost teachers.
“We have learnt that there are many teachers who resigned from the department but are still getting paid,” said Rodgers.
He also expressed concern about a trend of not filling posts in the education department.
“The MEC of education and I believe that up to R1bn can be saved on COE and ghost teachers,” he said.
“We have learnt that many teachers resigned or others took pension but they continue being paid by the department.”
Provincial education MEC Sipho Hlomuka said they are happy with the support they received from provincial Treasury.
Hlomuka said they are working hard to try to turn around the department’s situation.
He was optimistic they would turn the tide.
Hlomuka the department was ready for the matric exams which starts in 19 days.
“We are ready for the exams not in matric alone but in all other classes,” he said.
The department was placed under Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) intervention in August after overspending its 2024/25 budget by March and carrying large unpaid bills into the new financial year.
The provincial treasury has since intervened by seizing control of the education department’s spending — except for salaries, school transfers and nutritional grants — to ensure funds are available before any new financial commitments are made, including orders for LTSM.
On Monday basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube convened a meeting with the education and transport departments and KZN premier Thami Ntuli to address the budget constraints affecting the functioning of schools in the province.
TimesLIVE
