Gauteng has recorded the construction of 202 public schools since 1994, provincial education records show, but the Democratic Alliance says the number is far too small to keep pace with the province’s growing learner population.
What the province provided
Education MEC Lebogang Maile told the Gauteng Provincial Legislature that of the 202 schools listed as built since the advent of democracy, 201 are complete and operational. One school has been finished but is not yet open as it awaits an occupational certificate.
The department’s data also records the construction of 6,221 classrooms at those schools. Officials said some older financial and project records — particularly for work done between 1994 and 2012 — are incomplete because projects were carried out before full digitisation and via a range of implementing agents.
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Schools built since 1994 | 202 |
| Operational schools | 201 |
| Classrooms constructed | 6,221 |
| Schools prioritised for refurbishment | 78 |
Opposition alarmed about pace
The DA criticised the figures, calculating that 202 schools over 32 years averages to roughly six schools completed per year. Sergio Isa Dos Santos, who is the DA’s education spokesperson in Gauteng, said the pace is "completely out of step with Gauteng’s growing learner population" and expressed concern that only one new school was reported to be currently under construction.
"This painfully slow pace of school infrastructure delivery is completely out of step with Gauteng’s growing learner population," the DA spokesperson said.
The department told the legislature that 78 schools have been identified and prioritised for refurbishment under the approved Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (IAMP). However, it could not provide cost estimates for the planned upgrades, saying budget figures would be confirmed once the relevant planning stages are completed.
What this means for parents and schools
For parents, teachers and learners the figures underline continuing pressure on classroom space in parts of Gauteng. The province has been experiencing growth in learner numbers, and the DA’s critique frames the delivery data as evidence that infrastructure expansion has not matched demand.
- Waiting for certificates: One completed school remains closed pending an occupational certificate, delaying access for learners who may need alternative arrangements.
- Refurbishment backlog: Seventy-eight schools are slated for upgrades but funding and timelines are not yet finalised.
- Record gaps: Older projects lack full financial documentation because of pre-digitisation processes and multiple implementing agents.
Education authorities did not provide immediate cost figures for the refurbishment programme when responding to the legislative question. The MEC’s figures were supplied as the province begins to process applications for the 2027 school intake for primary and high school.
Context and next steps
The response to the legislature forms part of broader scrutiny over school infrastructure in Gauteng. The DA has been pressing the provincial government to accelerate construction and to be transparent about where money is being spent.
Departmental officials say further detail on refurbishment costs will follow once planning is complete. Meanwhile, the province must balance the need to build new schools with upgrading existing facilities to relieve overcrowding and ensure classrooms are safe and fit for teaching.
Residents seeking clarity on specific projects in their area can contact the Gauteng Department of Education or their local ward councillor for updates on planning timelines, refurbishment priorities and the status of any schools claimed to be under construction.
Reporting from Johannesburg.
