JOHANNESBURG — Gauteng school challenges have taken center stage as Education MEC Lebogang Maile addresses severe overcrowding, deteriorating infrastructure, and escalating safety concerns across the province. Following the department’s “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” community outreach initiative launched in May, officials are grappling with the harsh realities uncovered during unannounced visits, prompting urgent interventions and sparking intense debate among education stakeholders.
The outreach program was designed to bring government officials face-to-face with residents, specifically targeting schools with histories of gang violence and bullying. According to the department, safety remains a critical priority, leading to a series of unannounced raids conducted alongside law enforcement and Community Policing Forums (CPFs). During a recent operation at Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong, within the Merafong municipality, officials seized dangerous weapons, including knives and pellet guns, that learners had brought onto school grounds.
Mongi Zimbata, the CPF Chairperson for Greater Orlando, participated in the community engagements and noted that the MEC’s emphasis on safety is vital for the region. Zimbata explained that CPF structures have deployed three patrollers per school to act as first responders and assist with perimeter safety during searches.
“When we do these searches, we get knives and pellet guns, which are currently in high numbers in our community,” Zimbata stated, noting that learners often carry weapons for protection against bullying. He identified several problematic schools requiring urgent and frequent intervention where learners are sometimes targeted outside school yards or affected by local gang affiliations. Zimbata issued a strong plea to parents to actively check their children’s school bags for weapons, emphasizing that community involvement is essential to improving both safety and academic results.
Infrastructure Deficits and Severe Overcrowding
Beyond safety, the Gauteng Department of Education is battling a massive infrastructure backlog. The province currently relies on over 2,000 ordinary schools to accommodate approximately 2.44 million learners. Unannounced visits have revealed dilapidated and decommissioned buildings plagued by safety-critical defects, including damaged ceilings, broken windows, unstable floors, failing ablutions, compromised roof and water systems, and faulty electrical infrastructure. These schools have been referred to the Department of Infrastructure Development for risk-based assessment and intervention.
Education activist Dr. Hendrick Makaneta points out that the root of the overcrowding crisis is largely driven by rapid migration from rural provinces into Gauteng, as well as internal migration from townships to suburban areas. Makaneta pushed back on the narrative that foreign nationals are the primary drivers of the shortage, noting they account for only about 1.2% to 1.8% of total enrollment.
“The reality is that our population is growing at a faster pace, and the government is not able to keep up with the growing demands,” Makaneta explained, adding that billions of rands and vast tracts of land are required to clear the infrastructure backlog. He urged the MEC to partner with the private sector and local municipalities to improve town planning, ensuring that new housing developments are built with adequate public schools in mind.
The pressure on the system was highlighted by the recent opening of the 2027 online admissions portal, which received between 200,000 and half a million applications within just days. Makaneta warned that this surge threatens to leave many learners unplaced by the first day of the term, potentially violating Section 29 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to basic education. Additionally, Makaneta highlighted a staggering statistic regarding learner welfare: over the past three years, 22,000 abuse and neglect cases were handled in the province, yet only 155 occurred on school premises, suggesting schools are acting as a vital safety net for issues originating at home.
Stakeholder Pushback and the “Absent Village”
Despite the department’s efforts, some advocates remain highly critical of the government’s approach, citing systemic failures such as teacher absenteeism, administrative instability, and schools operating without permanent principals.
Vanessa Le Roux, founder of Parents for Equal Education, expressed deep disappointment following the MEC’s briefing, describing the government’s efforts as “talk shops” and “paper pushes.” Le Roux noted that Gauteng was previously praised for its ability to place unplaced learners rapidly, but now seems to be offering excuses rather than actionable solutions for safety and resources.
“We have made teachers glorified babysitters, and at this point, teachers are in more danger than the children themselves,” Le Roux argued. She emphasized that the core philosophy of the outreach program is currently failing because “the village is absent.” Le Roux called for the exploration of strict legal consequences for juvenile offenses and parent negligence, stating that children cannot be allowed to rule their parents and teachers without facing repercussions.
Le Roux also directed sharp criticism at the National Minister of Education, accusing her of playing politics and ignoring the severe gangsterism, drug conflicts, and educator stabbings plaguing schools in the Western Cape. According to Le Roux, the Minister avoids the province’s most dangerous, under-resourced areas in favor of visiting “lily white” and “leafy” suburban schools for political photo opportunities.
As the department prepares for the upcoming academic year, the consensus among community leaders and activists is clear: while government intervention and unannounced safety raids are necessary steps, overcoming Gauteng’s school challenges will ultimately require a united, accountable front from parents, municipalities, and the private sector.
