Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona is adamant that the province’s schools received funding in November to settle municipal bills, including electricity.
This comes as some schools in Johannesburg claim to have lost municipal services because of unpaid debt.
They claim to have inherited accounts from the department that were already in arrears.
Mabona has rubbished the claims, urging affected schools to negotiate payment arrangements with municipalities.
“The department had also previously communicated with School Governing Bodies on the decentralisation of the payment of municipal accounts, and their responsibility to ensure the relevant allocations were accordingly utilised to settle their municipal accounts and pay their monthly electricity consumption.”
Mabona said that in May, schools will receive more funds to help meet their operational obligations, including municipal services.
“The department is currently facilitating processes for schools to receive the 2026/27 financial year allocations, which schools are expected to receive on or before 15 May 2026.”
Article by Nkosikhona Malinga-Mnisi.
Eyewitness News
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