Parents and the South African National Association for Special School Education (SANASE) have closed 76 special schools in KwaZulu-Natal after the provincial Department of Education failed to pay subsidies on time. The delayed funding has disrupted the daily operations of these schools, leaving them unable to pay for essential services such as water, electricity, school bus fuel, and repairs.
This is not the first time such disruptions have occurred. In March 2023, parents from 74 special schools in Durban kept their children home for two months to protest similar funding delays, and in April, learners marched to the Premier’s office with parents and teachers. The schools resumed classes after the department promised additional funds and new buses for support staff.
Parents, like Nonjabulo Msimanga, expressed concern that children will miss classes due to the closures, while understanding that the lack of funds left schools with no choice. SANASE Deputy Chairperson Khehla Khumalo highlighted that special schools have been raising issues about delayed subsidies, staff shortages, and insufficient transport for over two years. Some learners are only able to attend school one week per month because of the limited availability of functional buses.
MEC Sipho Hlomuka acknowledged the importance of special schools in supporting learners with special needs and apologized for the disruptions, attributing the delays to technical glitches in processing payments. He confirmed that subsidies have been rescheduled for payment starting 20 October, with schools expected to receive funds by 23 October.
