By Thapelo Molefe

With Gauteng online applications opening on Tuesday and private schools already planning for 2026, parents are urged to act now to prepare for the cost of their children’s education.

As the Gauteng department of education (GDE) prepares to open online admissions for Grade 1 and 8 from 24 July to 29 August, financial and education experts are warning parents to start planning early for what they say is often one of the most significant long-term expenses in a household – school fees.

Some private schools have already opened for 2026, making it clear that the education race begins before the first day of Grade 1.

“Once you’ve decided where you want to enrol your child, the next step is to work out how you are going to pay for it. It’s critical to plan ahead,” said Sparks Schools finance manager Natasha Vellieux.

According to the executive head of financial planning at NMG Benefits, Stian de Witt, putting even a small amount of money into a high-interest savings account each month can help ease the financial strain when payments are due.

Experts say that many parents underestimate the cost of schooling most of the time, especially when it comes to additional expenses such as uniforms, stationery, transport and aftercare.

“School expenses go way beyond fees. Save by checking second-hand stores and exchanges, and online marketplaces for discounted supplies and ‘gently worn’ uniforms,” De Witt said.

He also encouraged parents to begin budgeting early and involve their children using a method known as the three piggy banks system.

This method includes saving for emergencies or long-term goals, spending for day-to-day small purchases and giving, which is helping others or donating.

“This system helps children understand the basics of financial discipline, generosity and delayed gratification – skills that are invaluable in the long term,” said De Witt.

Experts outlined five key financial tips for parents preparing for their child’s first year of school. These included starting a budget early, creating a school specific savings plan and choosing schools with transparent and flexible fee structures.

Parents were also encouraged to shop smart for supplies and prioritise education quality over price, as long-term outcomes mattered more than short-term savings.

Vellieux added that more affordable private schooling options were emerging offering high quality education at a lower cost than traditional models.

While affordability was important, parents were encouraged to consider the broader educational value when choosing a school.

“Look for a school that offers data-driven instruction that tracks each scholar’s progress so that teachers can provide personalised and targeted support, and young, energetic teachers whose professional development is taken seriously and who are constantly upskilling themselves in education innovations,” Vellieux said.

A globally competitive curriculum was important.

“Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) is the basis for most South African schools, but some also incorporate international benchmarks, offering data-driven instruction, evidence-based practices and personalised learning, and a focus on real-world workplace and emotional skills.”

Vellieux added that the 21st century required scholars to possess a mindset and skills for lifelong learning, empowering them to succeed in all aspects of their lives.

“Getting your child ready for Grade 1 is about more than enrolling at the closest school or finding the right uniform. It’s about setting up healthy financial habits to help you consistently pay school fees for the next 12 years.

“By budgeting early and choosing a school that aligns with your financial situation and educational goals, you’re setting your child – and your wallet – up for long-term success,” she said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

MEDIA STATEMENT

The Construction Education Training Authority (CETA) takes note of a story in the Sunday Times (titled Minister Nobuhle Nkabane Seta woes deepen, 22 June 2025) in which CETA’s name is being dragged through the mud using regurgitated, false and malicious claims to which there are previous responses which the Sunday Times did not request or patently ignored.

The story, based on an opinion piece appearing elsewhere in the paper, then proceeds to make tenuous links between unrelated issues, conveniently ignoring facts to construct its narrative.

It is falsehood, a misrepresentation and misleading the public that there has been irregularities or corruption ignored at CETA. The CETA investigated all claims of irregularities to which it has acted in applying consequence management to various officials, including one being quoted by the ST.

What is noticeable is that most of these implicated officials have opted to go to the media and attack the CETA leadership and CEO at various platforms in an attempt to escape disciplinary action

CETA is currently applying a ruling by the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) handed on the 27th of May 2025, which states that CETA can proceed with a disciplinary hearing against the employee. We doubt if the employee made mention of this fact to the Sunday Times.

The employee sought to halt disciplinary proceedings on the basis that some of the charges emanated from an alleged disclosure made under the Protected Disclosure Act of 2000, thereby disguising themselves as a whistleblower when they were not.  The employee wanted all charges, including those not related to protected disclosure, to be dropped.

The employee faces serious charges, including the violation and breach of Supply Chain Management (SCM) policies which led to CETA incurring irregular expenditure, the violation of contract management policies, alleged leaking of CETA confidential information and bringing the CETA and the CEO name  into disrepute, misrepresentation, fraud and forgery, including that of allegedly forging the CEO’s signature as well as the violation of CETA’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.

The disclosures in question were made in August 2019, three months after a forensic investigation report implicating the same official and others was issued to the CETA Board in May 2019. 

The employee had concealed information about irregularities then afterwards claimed whistleblowing on what could have been brought to light years earlier. The official is at the centre of those implicated in the findings by the forensic report.

In its ruling, the CCMA has found that “…the disclosures in their entirety, given the timing in which they were made, were not made sincerely, honestly and in good faith and thus cannot be regarded as protected disclosures to be protected against occupational detriment. The employee must face all charges in the disciplinary hearing and provide her defences accordingly.”

CETA awaits the employee to present themselves to a hearing chaired by an independent chairperson to present her case.

The part of the story that CETA would like to reject with utter contempt and dismay is the repeated claims of tender irregularities and board nomination manipulations, both of which allegedly involve CETA CEO Malusi Shezi.

The most unfortunate part of the story is that the Sunday Times was selective in its request for commentary, enquiring only about nomination claims, and said nothing of the tender irregularities.

The tender irregularities allegation rests on assertions made by a CETA employee who is currently suspended and poses as a ‘whistleblower’.

Had the Sunday Times raised the employee’s name and their claims, CETA would have alerted them to the true facts of the employee’s case.

The Sunday Times proceeds to report that the employee reported her case to several institutions including the Presidency, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training and the Public Protector.

The Sunday Times then proceeds to suggests that none of these institutions did anything about the alleged claims.

Had the Sunday Times contacted the Public Protector, instead of taking their source’s word, they would have been informed, as CETA was, that an investigation on the matter is ongoing.

On the matter of board nomination manipulation, CETA reiterates what it told the Sunday Times. The allegations against the CETA officials are false and malicious. SETA Boards are appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training In accordance with section 11(1) and (2) of the Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 with limited input for the SETAS or their CEOs.

The Department of Higher Education and Training has undertaken an investigation into the allegations of board manipulation at CETA and found no evidence of such wrongdoing.

The Minister had instructed the National Skills Authority (NSA) to undertake such; and all parties concerned were contacted and interviewed. The said employee quoted by ST is not a party into such a matter; and no need for investigators to engage her/him.

Save for this to confirm that the said employee and her cahoots are engaged in spreading lies and attacking the institutions of the State. 

CETA notes that the ST failed to follow the Press Code, and did not afford sufficient time for responses, which suggest the ST already had written its story and had a clear agenda to smear and attack the CETA and the Minister.

The report on a vital matter involving a strategic Ministry is blemished by this unfortunate distortion.

It is on public record that the CETA has appeared to Parliamentary Committees including the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) in February 2025, accompanied by the Minister at the same session to account on all the alleged matters. CETA submitted all requested documentation to SCOPA through the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

The CETA also appeared twice at the Portfolio Commitee on Higher Education and Training in the last 12 months, accompanied by the DHET leadership and the representatives of the Minister on those occasions. All those are indicators of oversight played by the Ministry over the SETAs and matters they account on to Parliament.

All these facts were ignored in tarnishing the image of the SETAs at large when accountability is taking place and evidence at this CETA so far indicates that the recent allegations are not supported by credible evidence but mere speculation and smear campaign.

The matters alleged to have taken place in previous periods as covered in the Duja Reports, were already addressed by the institution; including the probity audits before all awarded tenders are concluded. The conclusions from probity audits in the past 24 months shows no instance of non-compliance.

The probity audit firms performing those assignments on each tender awarded are independent and objective, and are registered with the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors (IRBA).

That is the highest level of assurance and conclusions about processes compliance with Section 217 of the Constitution, Section 51 of the PFMA and the related CETA policies one can rely on in this regard.

CETA would like to place its disappointment on the record and reserves its rights.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Alicia Mmashakana

The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) has collaborated with the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) to implement a career-oriented Digital Boot camp programme.

With Over 300 applicants, 15 transport of them have been selected for an intensive skills development course, designed to address critical capacity gaps in the transport sector.

UCT GSB executive education head Jodie Martin said: “At the UCT GSB, we have a responsibility to make a positive difference. Our partnership with TETA means that we are getting closer to our mission as it enables us to impact industries that are there for ordinary South Africans.

“As a business school, our mandate is to make a positive impact and change the lives of not just our delegates, but their families, the organisations they represent and the economy more broadly.”

The boot camp offered prerequisite-free digital training in data analytics, web development, UX/UI design, and other disciplines relevant to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In recent years, UCT GSB has also piloted entrepreneurship boot camps, with 75% of Career Leadership Centre alumni finding employment within 90 days. 

The University said that with TETA’s assistance, its pipeline for producing world-class digital professionals was viable.

TETA CEO Maphefo Anno-Frempong said: “The transport sector is an enabler of economic growth. Without the movement of people and goods, no economy can thrive.”

Mpho Mbadi, a bus supervisor at Bombela Operating Company, which operates and maintains transport systems, including the Gautrain, is one of the selected participants.

“I applied for the programme to empower myself and improve how I view things, how I manage people, how we operate as a business as this has an impact on the transport sector as a whole,” Mbadi said.

To bring these insights to life, the programme includes international study immersions in Shenzhen in China and Mexico City, Mexico, which are two cities tackling transport challenges in unique ways.

While Mexico City tackles challenges are related to high population density and limited resources, Shenzhen leverages advanced technology to manage similar issues in a rapidly urbanising environment, highlighting how solutions can be tailored to different economic and infrastructural contexts.

UCT GSB has integrated technical training with career guidance and industry networking, striving for sustainable success, including support for entrepreneurial ventures.

The two organisations stated that the year-long course was designed to expand opportunities for young people, particularly those who have faced barriers to employment, and to equip them with the skills needed to participate in an increasingly digital economy.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has urged institutions of higher learning across South Africa to integrate Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke’s legacy beyond ceremonial gestures.

“Yes, her name deserves to grace our buildings, but more than that, her values must shape our institutions. Let us embed her legacy in our leadership programmes, our curriculum, and our approach to community development,” said Clarence Tshitereke, Nkabane’s advisor, who delivered a speech on her behalf.

He was speaking during the “Finding the Forgotten Graduate” Lecture hosted at The Innovation Hub in Tshwane, marking the countdown to the 125th anniversary of Maxeke’s groundbreaking university graduation.

The event not only launched the official countdown to the 125th anniversary of Charlotte Maxeke’s graduation but also ignited urgent reflection on justice, historical erasure and access in South African higher education.

Hosted in partnership with the Charlotte Mannya Maxeke Institute (CMMI), the lecture commemorated the legacy of Maxeke, the first Black South African woman to graduate with a university degree, a BSc, from Wilberforce University in Ohio, USA, on 20 June 1901.

“Too often we try to locate Maxeke within regional narratives of the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Johannesburg, but she transcends borders. Her life intersected with giants like Dr W.E.B. du Bois, and her leadership inspired generations long before today’s terms like Pan-Africanism or social justice became academic language,” Tshitereke said.

Framed around the theme of intellectual reclamation, the lecture posed a powerful question to the nation: How do we confront the historical erasure of Black academic excellence and reimagine a higher education landscape rooted in equity, memory and justice?

Tshitereke emphasised that the lecture was not merely ceremonial but a “national act of memory, legacy and renewal.”

The address set the tone for a series of academic and policy events to follow as South Africa commemorates Maxeke’s graduation anniversary as a milestone now tethered to broader conversations around curriculum transformation, institutional legacy and student inclusion.

The event included the unveiling of the Finding the Forgotten Graduate exhibition, a multi-award-winning digital storytelling campaign that resurrects the erased histories of early Black graduates in South Africa.

Developed by a cross-disciplinary team over 20 months, the project has already reached more than 4.5 million people and serves as a catalyst for critical conversations about legacy and belonging in South African universities.

“These were the first doctors, the first poets, the first lawyers, people like Zainunnisa Gool, Harold Cressy and Khayrunnisa Attaullah. Their names do not appear enough in our textbooks. Today, we say: we will not forget,” Tshitereke said.

Key among the initiatives launched was the Girls’ School of Excellence and the AgriCity Integrated Development Initiative, spearheaded by the department and the CMMI.

Tshitereke explained that these projects were not ceremonial, but transformational; adding that they merged education with economic inclusion, environmental justice and youth empowerment in the spirit of Maxeke.

African National Congress treasurer general Gwen Ramokgopa, who represented Maxeke’s home region of Botlokwa, reminded the audience that Maxeke was “a child of many places, but a woman of one vision — upliftment through education”.

The lecture also reminded the audience of Maxeke’s internationalist identity.

The evening featured a moving reading by acclaimed journalist and author Zubeida Jaffer from her biography Being Charlotte.

Other key speakers included Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya, who delivered the official welcome address, and mutual financial services company PPS for Professionals’ executive Ayanda Seboni, who outlined the origins of the Forgotten Graduate campaign.

The minister’s advisor also used the occasion to spotlight the growing disjunction between tertiary education and employment, describing graduate unemployment as a national crisis.

“Young people are completing degrees, but many cannot find work. This disconnection between learning and livelihoods demands a response — one aligned with Charlotte Maxeke’s belief that education was a tool for community upliftment,” Tshitereke said.

The evening included a panel discussion moderated by lecture director Musawenkosi Saurombe.

Panellists included vice-chancellors from leading South African universities, as well as creatives, historians, and student leaders.

The discussion centered on the transformation of institutional memory and the urgent need for a higher education system that reflects South Africa’s full historical truth.

Tshitereke issued a call to action to all institutions of higher learning.

“Let every student know that this country’s first Black female graduate was not just a student, she was a Pan-Africanist, a theologian, an activist, and an intellectual long before these words were popularised. Let her be the measure. Let her be the mirror,” he said.

He described the lecture as a national moment of reckoning, remembrance and renewal.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

A fresh wave of grief and fear has gripped Walter Sisulu University (WSU) after the fatal shooting of deputy vice-chancellor for institutional support and development, Sinethemba Mpambane, on Thursday evening.

Mpambane was gunned down execution-style while seated in his vehicle outside the Nkululekweni facility in Mthatha. It is the second fatal shooting on the campus in two months.

Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has called for “urgent action to restore peace and security” at the institution.

“The safety and well-being of students and staff must be prioritised at all times. The academic community cannot thrive in an environment characterised by fear and violence. Institutions of higher learning must remain sanctuaries for teaching, learning, and transformation,” Nkabane said on Friday.

Mpambane’s killing follows the death of final-year student Sisonke Mbolekwa, who was fatally shot during a student protest in April.

Residence manager Manelesi Mampane was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with that incident and is currently out on bail.

WSU management, along with the department, has confirmed that they are in contact with both victims’ families and are working to provide psychological and logistical support.

Eastern Cape police have launched a high-level investigation into Mpambane’s murder.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the victim sustained “multiple gunshot wounds while seated in the driver’s position of his vehicle”.

“The acting provincial commissioner, Major-General Thandiswa Kupiso, has mobilised maximum resources to pursue all leads. Public speculation must be avoided to preserve the integrity of the investigation,” Gantana said.

Student groups have expressed outrage over the ongoing violence.

Nkululeko Tyatya, who is the regional deputy chairperson of the South African Students Congress (SASCO) and secretary of the student parliament at WSU, condemned the latest incident.

“As SASCO we are totally disturbed by the incident. We still haven’t recovered from the previous incidents, and this one makes things worse. We believe in a free and peaceful environment within institutions of higher learning so that students can be able to study in a well conducive environment to ensure that they obtain their qualifications and improve the lives of their families.,” Tyatya said.

Students have long expressed frustrations with the university management over accommodation conditions, poor infrastructure and perceived neglect of student grievances.

The earlier protest that led to Mbolekwa’s death stemmed from these unresolved issues, with many students accusing the administration of failing to act in their best interests.

The chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Tebogo Letsie, called for immediate action and stronger campus security.

“We are devastated to learn that another life has been lost so callously. Violence has no place in our institutions of learning. This latest tragedy is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about safety on campus,” Letsie said.

He urged the university’s council and the department to implement tangible measures to protect staff and students, including the strengthening of internal security and rapid response systems.

Nkabane has committed to meeting Vice-Chancellor Professor Rushiella Songca and the chair of the University Council to evaluate and upgrade existing security protocols.

Counselling services have been made available to affected students and staff.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Democratic Alliance has intensified its efforts to hold Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane accountable, filing a supplementary ethics complaint and escalating the matter to the Public Protector.

This follows revelations from prominent legal advocate Terry Motau SC, who denies ever participating in or chairing the panel responsible for the controversial appointments of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairpersons.

“In light of the new information that an alleged member of the panel denies participating, one can only wonder if a panel did ever exist, or whether the minister simply provided a list of names to Parliament of persons she believed would cover for her,” DA committee member Karabo Khakhau said.

The original complaint, which was submitted earlier this week, accused Nkabane of misleading Parliament by first claiming the SETA appointments were made by an “independent” panel and later contradicting that statement.

The new charge adds that a key figure she named as panel chair, Motau, has now publicly refuted any involvement in the process.

According to Khakhau, the minister violated the Executive Members’ Ethics Code and announced the referral of the matter to the Public Protector for further jurisdiction.

In a detailed written response to the minister seen by Inside Education, Motau categorically rejected any formal involvement.

He stated he had received a letter from Nkabane’s office on 18 March expressing intent to appoint him as chair of the nomination committee but was never briefed, never received documents, nor convened with any panel members.

Motau said he met once with the minister’s advisor, Asisipho Solani, and deputy director-general Rhulani Ngwenya to discuss logistics, but never received further instructions.

A follow-up meeting arranged for 23 March was missed by the officials, and no subsequent engagements followed.

“I did not hear anything further until I saw from the media reports that the process had been finalised and that the nominations and appointments had been made,” he said.

Motau’s name appeared on the list of panel members finally released by the minister on 17 June, following delays and mounting pressure.

The list also included four department officials, namely Solani, Ngwenya, chief director Mabuza Ngubane and chief of staff Nelisiwe Semane.

The panel’s appointments, which included politically connected individuals such as Buyambo Mantashe, who is the son of African Nation Congress stalwart Gwede Mantashe, former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, and ex-ANC KwaZulu-Natal deputy chair Mike Mabuyakhulu, sparked outrage across party lines.

The appointments were later rescinded following public and parliamentary backlash.

Inside Education reached out to Higher Education Portfolio Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie, who confirmed he had sent letters to all five named panelists, requesting responses by 25 June.

“We are working around the clock to get a date for this meeting,” he said.

“Only after verifying the facts, will we consider further action. If anyone is found to have deliberately lied to Parliament, criminal charges could be laid under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament Act.”

Letsie emphasised the seriousness of the issue and said it was essential to establish whether a panel existed and if the minister violated her duties to parliament.

“We must first indicate that we will do due diligence to verify if it’s indeed true that anyone lied to Parliament and we will call panelists and the ministry with the department to ascertain if the information provided is correct or not,” he said.

The DA insists that misleading Parliament is not only unethical but unlawful.

“Since this scandal came to light, the minister has remained evasive, refusing to answer questions, delaying the disclosure of the names of the panel, continuing to conceal one of the names of the SETA appointment panel, misleading Parliament, and now, it appears, further misleading Parliament about who was on the panel,” Khakhau said.

The minister is set to face intense scrutiny as further investigations are conducted in the coming weeks.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng 

In a display of community spirit for Youth Month, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and Liberty joined forces to uplift learners at Umsilinga Primary School in Copesville, Pietermaritzburg. 

They handed over 100 pairs of school shoes and blankets.

The department is also assisting in renovating the school and manufacturing school uniforms through its rehabilitation and community reintegration programme.

It said the donation showcased the power of collective action in advancing compassion, dignity and social solidarity.

During the event, Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale said that every child deserved to be treated with dignity and compassion, and no one should suffer harm or neglect.

“These shoes and blankets may seem like simple items, but for many of these children, they represent so much more,” he said.

“A new pair of shoes can restore dignity, build confidence and allow a child to walk to school with pride.” 

Liberty’s head of sales in the province, Sihle Mnguni, said the initiative was part of Liberty’s Winter Shoe Drive, which was an employee volunteerism programme launched in 2017. 

Through staff pledges and contributions, Liberty has donated over 100,000 pairs of school shoes to learners nationwide, reinforcing the values of Ubuntu and corporate social responsibility.

The event featured a powerful testimony from parolee Andile Paul Mthethwa who turned his life around through the support of Correctional Services. 

Mthethwa’s story served as a reminder that education was key to breaking the cycle of crime and that rehabilitation was possible with the right support.

“I was first sentenced at 16 and my last stint behind bars led to my release at 33. I now live to show that change is possible. Education is the way out. Crime only takes away your future,” he said.

Liberty is also involved in other community upliftment initiatives.

They include donations of educational resources to underprivileged schools, supporting economic development projects in rural areas and providing disaster relief aid to affected communities. 

The DCS has also been involved in various community outreach programmes such as rehabilitating offenders, education and skills development initiatives and community service projects. 

They said this collaboration was a shining example of how South Africa could thrive when its institutions and people worked together, inspired by the values of care and humanity that former president Nelson Mandela stood for.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

KwaZulu-Natal’s education crisis saw a breakthrough this week as the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) announced a temporary suspension of its work-to-rule campaign following an agreement with the provincial education department.

“The union suspends its work-to-rule to allow the processing of payments and writing of examinations. The union leadership will continue to have meetings with the department as a way of monitoring the implementation of the decisions and commitments done by the employer,” Sadtu provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said.

The move comes after weeks of tension, school-level disruptions and mounting public concern over missed exams and financial instability across the province’s schools.

At the heart of the crisis is a severe funding shortfall, which has left many schools unable to operate effectively.

Some principals resorted to borrowing funds to cover basic operational costs, while teachers paid out of pocket to print exam papers and buy essential supplies.

On Monday, the union met KwaZulu-Natal education HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo to discuss a recovery plan.

This meeting followed a crucial engagement with premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, who earlier committed R900 million to help rescue the embattled education system.

Ntuli’s intervention came after pressure from Sadtu, the National Teachers’ Union (Natu) and other stakeholders.

He said the R900 million would be disbursed in two phases over three weeks.

The funds are aimed at clearing outstanding 2024 allocations and May 2025 payments, as well as ensuring the June examination cycle could proceed without further disruption.

“All outstanding school payments will be paid within two weeks. The June exams will go ahead without disruption. Discussions on filling critical education posts are underway. As premier, I remain committed to ensuring that teaching and learning continue across KZN,” Ntuli said.

Following the meeting with the HOD, the department presented a revised examination timetable, allowing schools to resume June exams on 18 June.

For schools lacking resources, the department has committed to printing and distributing exam papers.

Caluza confirmed the union’s support for the new plan and welcomed the department’s commitment to make school payments by 4 and 31 July, pending receipt of the premier’s pledged funds.

“We acknowledge the premier’s efforts, but the reality is that schools are still waiting for allocations. The union’s decision to suspend work-to-rule is based on the need to ensure exams proceed and learners aren’t further disadvantaged,” Caluza stated.

While progress has been made, Sadtu continues to push back against the compulsory implementation of standardised “common tests” for underperforming schools, defined by the department as those that scored below 85% in the 2024 National Senior Certificate exams.

The union criticised this practice as costly, bureaucratic and intellectually dismissive of teachers’ professional judgement.

“Imposing these tests undermines teachers. Schools are being told they volunteered, when in reality, they’re being forced. This contradicts the Department of Basic Education’s D3 Circular of 2023,” Caluza said.

The department has now agreed to hold a meeting on 27 June to discuss the future of standardised testing in the province.

The union views recent developments as a partial victory for educators and learners.

“Without our members’ commitment on the picket line, these changes would not have happened,” said Caluza, acknowledging the sacrifices made during the campaign.

Natu general secretary Doctor Ngema echoed this sentiment.

“The premier’s commitment to reviewing compensation for Grade R teachers and ensuring timely payments to National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) providers is a step forward. We are cautiously optimistic,” Ngema said.

However, concerns persist that the R900 million allocated is not sufficient to address the full scope of the department’s backlog.

According to Democratic Alliance education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi, an additional R700 million may be needed to cover all unpaid accruals and operational deficits.

Even as payments are processed, many schools continue to operate under significant strain.

Reports of unpaid municipal bills, insufficient cleaning materials and frozen teacher posts are widespread.

The freezing of key support positions such as clerks, security staff and admin assistants has left schools vulnerable and understaffed.

Provincial education department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi acknowledged the crisis but said meaningful engagement with unions had yielded a “common ground” and a shared commitment to solutions.

While the immediate crisis may have eased, stakeholders warn the underlying issues remain.

The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa’s Thirona Moodley stressed that while it was important that June exams were going ahead, it was merely one chapter in a longer story of an education system in distress.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Democratic Alliance plans on formally refering Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane to Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests for allegedly misleading the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education.

The move follows mounting controversy over the selection process of board chairpersons for the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

According to DA MP and committee member Karabo Khakhau, the referral stems from Nkabane’s claim that all members of the SETA Board Chairpersons Selection and Evaluation Panel were independent.

“Minister Nkabane doctored her cadres deployment SETA Selection and Evaluation Panel. She lied that the people are independent. They are not. They are her own staff and officials of the department. But she is still protecting one mystery person,” Khakhau said on social media.

The DA alleges that recent disclosures prove that the minister appointed ANC-aligned individuals through a flawed and opaque process.

Under pressure from Parliament and civil society, Nkabane released the names of the panel members more than a week after the initial deadline.

The six-member panel includes:

Senior counsel Terry Motau, who was appointed as chairperson but reportedly never attended any meetings

Asisipho Solani, a former SA Student Congress leader and ANC Youth League member, currently serving as an advisor to the minister

Nelisiwe Semane, chief of staff in the Ministry of Higher Education

Mabuza Ngubane, chief director for SETA coordination

Rhulani Ngwenya, deputy director-general for corporate services in the Department of Higher Education and Training

One unnamed individual identity remains concealed due to “personal discomfort”, according to the minister.

According to Khakhau, Nkabane has also withheld two names from the National Skills Authority (NSA) Selection and Evaluation Panel, as well as one each from panels overseeing the Universities Council and the Council for Higher Education (CHE), further fueling opposition concerns.

The DA argues that the presence of ministerial staff and political affiliates on the selection panel undermines its independence and violates principles of fair governance.

Khakhau further stated that the DA would push for the full release of all minutes, reports and documents related to the SETA appointment process, particularly those submitted to the NSA for final decision-making.

Tebogo Letsie, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, confirmed that the committee had repeatedly demanded the names of the panel, insisting that disclosure was a constitutional obligation.

Letsie added that the committee would investigate the selection process for the 21 SETA boards, which were central to national skills development and vocational training.

The scandal has drawn widespread criticism across the political spectrum. The DA, along with other opposition parties such as the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), has accused Nkabane of using SETA appointments to reward ANC loyalists.

The MKP denounced the appointments as “corrupt and politically motivated”, arguing that they reflected the ruling party’s entrenched practice of cadre deployment.

Late last month, Nkabane withdrew the list of appointed SETA board chairpersons following public outcry and reports of political interference.

In a statement issued by her office, the minister expressed her readiness to appear before the committee and explain the process that vetted 573 applicants.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Democratic Alliance has sounded the alarm on what it calls a “student living crisis” following an oversight visit to a Nelson Mandela University residence in Gqeberha.

The delegation uncovered severely deteriorated and unsafe living conditions for hundreds of students, many of whom are still waiting for overdue accommodation allowances from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

“The conditions discovered during today’s oversight are undoubtedly mirrored on campuses across South Africa. Students have struggled with various aspects of the accommodations for a number of years, and rather than problems being solved, each year the situation seems to deteriorate,” DA higher education spokesperson Matlhodi Maseko said.

The oversight visit, led by Maseko, alongside national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau, Eastern Cape chairperson Yusuf Cassim and other party officials, revealed residences plagued by broken infrastructure, including collapsed ceilings, leaking pipes, shattered windows, dysfunctional bathrooms, broken perimeter fencing and overflowing refuse bins.

The Ocean View in North End residence houses approximately 600 students.

According to DA findings, NSFAS has failed to pay R2.97 million in monthly accommodation funding to this facility since last year, placing both students and housing providers in dire straits.

Maseko confirmed that students have reported constant threats of eviction, with many not receiving their NSFAS allowances in months.

They also allege that vulnerable students are being preyed upon by rogue landlords, who are withholding students’ belongings, including study materials, and some are being coerced into exploitative relationships in exchange for rent.

In response, the DA has launched a national online portal for students to report their accommodation challenges, available through the party’s website.

The platform allows students to upload photographs, detail living conditions and report unpaid allowances, exploitation and safety concerns.

Maseko said the platform would create a comprehensive national picture of the student housing crisis and help escalate urgent cases directly to the Higher Education and Training Department or NSFAS.

The DA has pledged to work closely with Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe to hold NSFAS to account and improve oversight on accommodation accreditation and funding processes. Gondwe has a help desk in her office that assists with a number of issues, including student accommodation.

Maseko further criticised the NSFAS’ student accommodation portal and accrediting systems, citing irregularities and inadequate vetting of service providers.

The spokesperson said the funding scheme was meant to be a beacon of hope.

“NSFAS is meant to help students, including those in vulnerable circumstances, to attain their goals and dreams, not be hindrances,” she said.

The DA said quality education was the best way for South African youth to become economically independent and thriving individuals.

NSFAS was unavailable for comment by the time of publishing.

INSIDE EDUCATION