12 Aug 2025

The Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education is faced with a challenge of inadequate funding as a result of approved budgetary ceilings, which are insufficient to cover all the ministry needs.

Answering a question in Parliament on Monday, Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Ms Nono Kgafela-Mokoka said out of a total of 32 267 teachers, 5 191 are owed leave concession payments amounting to P5 965 046.54. She said the ministry continued to reprioritise its budget and forego certain activities to ensure such payments were made.

To further address the matter, she said the ministry would engage the Ministry of Finance in November to address this challenge going forward. The minister was responding to a question from the MP for Kgatleng Central, Mr Mpho Morolong, who had asked the minister about the number of teachers awaiting payment of leave.

Mr Morolong had also sought clarification on the reasons for the accrued debt and the measures being implemented to resolve the challenge going forward.  ENDS