ANC rejects Western Cape education budget over deep cuts and ongoing school crises

The ANC has formally rejected the Western Cape Department of Education’s Adjustment Budget, accusing the provincial government of retreating from its constitutional responsibility to protect learners’ rights and ensure safe, functional schools.

Speaking during the debate on Budget Vote 5 in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature on Thursday, Leader of the Opposition Khalid Sayed said the revised budget cuts more than R520 million from the education allocation at a time when the system is under severe strain.

Sayed said the reductions come just days after the High Court ordered the department to overhaul its admissions system, including implementing a rights aligned admissions management plan, appointing designated officials, supporting undocumented parents and engaging in public consultations.

“This budget makes compliance with the court order impossible,” Sayed said, noting that R166.6 million had been cut from compensation of employees and R270 million removed from infrastructure spending. He added that no funding had been allocated for public consultations or stakeholder engagement.

According to Sayed, the annual crisis of unplaced learners, overcrowded classrooms and desperate parents queuing overnight would only deepen under the revised budget. He accused the department of repeatedly shifting blame onto parents, migration and school governing bodies while failing to address systemic planning failures.

He also criticised the department’s response to offers from religious organisations, including the Muslim Judicial Council, which have proposed building fully funded schools to help address placement backlogs. Sayed said these initiatives have been met with delays and bureaucratic obstacles.

Raising concerns about school safety, Sayed said violence in schools continues to escalate, with incidents of stabbings, teacher assaults and gang activity affecting learning environments. He highlighted allegations at Ridgeville Primary School in Mitchells Plain, including the misuse of Grade R funds, irregular tuck shop finances, corporal punishment, gender based violence and abuse of authority by school management.

“These matters amount to an education emergency,” he said. “Learners are not safe, teachers are not protected and accountability is absent.”

Sayed also criticised the department’s Back on Track programme, saying it has failed to close learning gaps due to poor implementation, low attendance, inconsistent tutoring and the absence of measurable improvements in literacy and numeracy.

He further accused the department of ignoring allegations that Herzlia High School serves as a recruitment site for the Israeli Defence Force, arguing that schools must remain safe and nation building spaces. He also condemned the lack of disciplinary action against a teacher at Oval North Secondary School following viral comments about Palestine, despite a formal complaint being lodged.

Sayed said the cumulative effect of the budget cuts and unresolved governance failures shows a fundamental misalignment between spending priorities and constitutional obligations.

“This is not a budget to fix education. It is a budget that allows crises to deepen,” he said.

The ANC confirmed it would not support Budget Vote 5, stating that the people of the Western Cape deserve an education system that is adequately funded, accountable and centred on the dignity and safety of learners.