IN CONVERSATION WITH SOLLY MSIMANGA
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The Gauteng Provincial Government is spending more than R230 million annually to rent and operate privately owned district offices for the Gauteng Department of Education, despite ongoing budget constraints affecting schools across the province.
According to a written reply by Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development Jacob Mamabolo to questions submitted in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, 10 of the GDE’s 15 district offices are located in privately owned buildings, while only five operate from government-owned properties. The department spends approximately R15.27 million per month R183.2 million annually on rental costs, in addition to R47.2 million per year on municipal services for these leased offices.
The Democratic Alliance argues that the expenditure raises concerns about whether the provincial government is making effective use of its own property portfolio or relying unnecessarily on privately leased buildings at significant cost to taxpayers.
The issue comes amid recent budget reductions to Quintile 5 schools, with the DA claiming funding has been cut by 64%, leaving some schools struggling to pay municipal bills and maintain basic services such as electricity, affecting teaching and learning.
While acknowledging the importance of district offices in supporting schools, the DA has questioned why government-owned buildings are not being prioritised before leasing private properties. The party says it will seek further information from the Department of Infrastructure Development on the reasons for the leases, the availability of suitable state-owned buildings, whether a “Government Buildings First” policy exists, and the potential savings that could be achieved by relocating district offices to government-owned premises.
The DA says that, if elected to govern Gauteng, it would prioritise using government-owned properties to reduce leasing costs and redirect savings towards classrooms, teachers, and school funding.
According to a written reply by Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development Jacob Mamabolo to questions submitted in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, 10 of the GDE’s 15 district offices are located in privately owned buildings, while only five operate from government-owned properties. The department spends approximately R15.27 million per month R183.2 million annually on rental costs, in addition to R47.2 million per year on municipal services for these leased offices.
The Democratic Alliance argues that the expenditure raises concerns about whether the provincial government is making effective use of its own property portfolio or relying unnecessarily on privately leased buildings at significant cost to taxpayers.
The issue comes amid recent budget reductions to Quintile 5 schools, with the DA claiming funding has been cut by 64%, leaving some schools struggling to pay municipal bills and maintain basic services such as electricity, affecting teaching and learning.
While acknowledging the importance of district offices in supporting schools, the DA has questioned why government-owned buildings are not being prioritised before leasing private properties. The party says it will seek further information from the Department of Infrastructure Development on the reasons for the leases, the availability of suitable state-owned buildings, whether a “Government Buildings First” policy exists, and the potential savings that could be achieved by relocating district offices to government-owned premises.
The DA says that, if elected to govern Gauteng, it would prioritise using government-owned properties to reduce leasing costs and redirect savings towards classrooms, teachers, and school funding.
