DA Slams Gauteng Government Over Closure of 41 Unsafe Schools, Calls for Repurposing to Ease Overcrowding
Johannesburg, 08 October 2025 – The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng has raised alarm over the closure of 41 public schools in the province due to unsafe infrastructure, a move they say has worsened overcrowding and compromised education for thousands of learners. The party argues that these shutdowns, spanning the last decade, reflect the department’s failure to plan and maintain facilities properly, leaving communities without local options and forcing children into packed classrooms.
In a recent written reply in the provincial legislature, Education MEC Matome Chiloane confirmed the closures, sparking calls from the DA to repurpose safe but unused buildings to relieve pressure on existing schools. This comes amid ongoing concerns about asbestos in some facilities and a broader infrastructure crisis plaguing Gauteng’s education system. As the province battles these issues, critics warn that without urgent action, learner outcomes and safety will continue to suffer.
The DA’s stance highlights a deepening divide over education management in Gauteng, where overcrowded and dilapidated schools have become a flashpoint for political debate.
The Closures and Their Causes
According to MEC Chiloane’s response, 26 schools were shut down due to dolomitic instability and sinkhole formations, posing severe safety risks. An additional 15 were closed because of low enrolment and returned to the Department of Infrastructure or private owners, while four were repurposed and merged with other institutions.
DA spokesperson Sergio dos Santos criticised the handling: “These closures over the last 10 years expose the department’s ongoing failure to plan ahead and manage infrastructure properly, leaving communities without nearby schools and forcing children into overcrowded classrooms.” He added that the DA is pushing for the MEC to repurpose and reopen safe unused schools to address the strain.
This echoes broader reports of unsafe conditions, such as the infrastructure collapse at Erasmus Monareng Secondary School in Tembisa earlier this year, where the DA conducted oversight inspections revealing serious risks to learners and educators.
DA’s Call for Repurposing and Systemic Change
The DA has urged the department to turn safe closed schools into usable spaces to ease overcrowding, a persistent issue in Gauteng. Dos Santos emphasised: “The DA’s calling on MEC Matome Chiloane to repurpose and re-open safe unused schools to ease pressure on overcrowded facilities.”
The party points to past failures, like false repair claims leading to inspector suspensions after DA pressure. They argue proactive maintenance could prevent such closures, ensuring education access for all.
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