61 illegal schools face closure as Gauteng allocates R1.13bn
Action was taken against illegal schools in 2025, when the department visited 57 illegally operating schools and served 31 with letters.
As part of a crackdown on illegal schools, the Gauteng education department has identified 61 schools that may be operating without proper authorization since January. Of these, 32 have received formal closure letters, signaling the province's strict oversight of independent schools. Speaking at a media briefing, Gauteng's MEC for education, Lebogang Maile, revealed that the investigations stemmed from reports from parents, community members, and other government bodies.
Inspectors visited the schools to confirm their registration and compliance with regulations, and those found to be functioning unlawfully were ordered to cease operations and initiate the closure process. Maile noted that seven of the 61 schools dealt with in 2026 have since ceased operations, while four have applied for registration.
Two school directors were arrested during the crackdown. Students affected by the closures will be transferred to legitimate schools to ensure they continue receiving education. Gauteng currently hosts 1,083 registered independent schools, up from 961 in 2021. The department will allocate approximately R1.13 billion in subsidies to qualifying independent schools during the 2026/27 financial year.
About R621 million is allocated for primary schools, while R508 million will support secondary education. Maile further explained that R4.3 billion in transfers and subsidies were distributed to independent schools between the 2022-23 and 2025-26 financial years, with R1.1 billion allocated in the 2025-26 financial year. Of the 279 subsidised independent schools, 804 do not receive government assistance.
Despite receiving public funding, subsidised schools remain independently owned and managed. The department monitors financial planning, budgets, annual financial statements, bank transactions, payroll, assets, and other financial requirements to ensure proper use of funds. The growth of the independent-school sector necessitates rigorous registration and oversight, particularly for parents making enrollment decisions for their children.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
