Gauteng Education Department Cuts Feeding Schemes to Save 3,400 Teachers Amid R4.5 Billion Budget Shortfall<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nUnderfunding and Poor Budgeting Take Their Toll<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A major contributor to the crisis is a decade of chronic underfunding. Although education plays a crucial role in South Africa\u2019s development, the government has repeatedly sidelined it in budget decisions. Gwarube pointed out that between 2013 and 2023, the government allocated R331 billion to bail out failing state-owned enterprises \u2014 diverting funds that it could have used to hire more teachers, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure a steady supply of learning materials nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to underinvestment, poor financial planning and budget mismanagement at provincial levels have worsened the situation. Many education departments have overspent on personnel costs due to irregularities in school post establishments. This has left little room in their budgets for other critical services such as learning support materials, school transport, and nutrition programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n