ActionSA has noted with serious concern a recent written reply to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature revealing that the Gauteng Department of Education spends an estimated R3,1 billion annually on the provision of basic education to foreign national learners.
In response to legislative questions on resource allocation and demographic profiling, the MEC for Education in Gauteng Lebogang Maile, confirmed that there are currently 146,000 foreign national learners enrolled across Gauteng’s public primary, secondary, and special needs schools.
Based on the Provincial Average Expenditure Per Learner for the 2026/27 financial year, the Department spends approximately R21,583 per learner per year, including the National School Nutrition Programme, but excluding scholar transport costs.
The Department’s response further shows that districts such as Tshwane South, Ekurhuleni North, and Johannesburg East carry some of the highest enrolments of foreign national learners, placing significant pressure on already overstretched schools and provincial resources.
While ActionSA recognises that every child has a constitutional right to basic education, it is equally important that government is honest with South Africans about the financial implications of carrying a responsibility that increasingly exceeds the resources allocated to the province.
Gauteng’s education system is already under immense strain. Many schools continue to battle overcrowded classrooms, ageing infrastructure, teacher shortages, and constrained budgets.
The revelation that the province spends more than R3.1 billion annually on foreign national learners raises serious questions about the sustainability of the current funding model.
ActionSA believes that the national government cannot continue shifting the financial burden of migration onto provincial governments without providing the necessary fiscal support. If Gauteng is expected to educate large numbers of foreign national learners, National Treasury must ensure that the province receives equitable funding that reflects this reality.
Failure to do so places both the quality of education and the long-term sustainability of Gauteng’s public education system at risk.
Furthermore, government must improve the collection and publication of accurate data on migration and its impact on public services. Transparent planning and responsible budgeting are essential to ensuring that all learners receive quality education without placing an unsustainable burden on provincial finances.
ActionSA will continue to exercise robust oversight over the Gauteng Department of Education to ensure accountability, transparency, and prudent financial management.
Every rand spent must deliver value for the people of Gauteng, and the province’s education system must be adequately resourced to meet the growing demand placed upon it.
ActionSA Michael Beaumont (National Chairperson/Strategic Lead) The Architect: Often described as the “brains” behind the party’s operational machinery. Background: He served as the Chief of Staff to Herman Mashaba during his Johannesburg Mayoralty and was a high-level DA administrator before that. The Book: Authored The Accidental Mayor, detailing the challenges of coalition governance in South Africa.