PSA Fights to Save 19,000 Teaching Jobs in KwaZulu-Natal Amid Budget Crisis

The Public Servants Association (PSA) has vowed to take decisive action to prevent the loss of 19,000 teaching posts in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), following warnings from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana about the province’s financial strain.

Godongwana previously cautioned that budget limitations could lead to the elimination of thousands of teaching jobs, sparking concerns among educators and unemployed graduates hoping to enter the profession.

The proposed 2% Value Added Tax (VAT) increase, which was rejected by the Government of National Unity (GNU) last month, was partly intended to support frontline services, including education and healthcare. However, without additional funding, the government is struggling to sustain essential services.

“As we speak, there is the threat of losing 19,000 teachers in KZN,” Godongwana stated, acknowledging the dire situation.

For many teachers, the prospect of job cuts has created widespread anxiety, while unemployed graduates fear they may never secure jobs in the education sector.

Noxolo Ntuli, an unemployed teacher, expressed her frustration, saying:
“It’s difficult. Sometimes I wish I had not chosen this profession because I did not think it would take so long to get a job. Even getting temporary or substitute posts is a struggle. Most schools advertise School Governing Body (SGB) posts that pay as little as R5,000 or less.”

The PSA has strongly criticized the government, blaming the crisis on poor fiscal planning, wasteful expenditure, and flawed policy decisions.

The union has demanded urgent intervention from the National Treasury, the KZN Department of Education, and the Presidency, warning that it will not allow the public education system to be dismantled.

“We will not stand idly by while the government dismantles the public education system. The union will take every necessary action, including legal challenges, to defend the rights of public servants and the future of South Africa’s learners,” the PSA stated.

To prevent the mass dismissal of teachers, the PSA has called for:

A moratorium on educator job cuts to ensure no teacher is dismissed due to budget constraints.
The immediate reallocation of funds to prioritize education and healthcare over other expenditures.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal has also condemned the situation, accusing Godongwana of putting the entire education system at risk.

DA MPL Sakhile Mngadi pointed out that while the KZN Department of Education was allocated R65.8 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, this represented only a 4.5% nominal increase, which is insufficient to cover rising costs.

The DA has announced plans to introduce a Schools Evaluation Authority Bill, aimed at addressing the crisis and improving education system oversight.

As the situation unfolds, teachers, unions, and political parties continue to demand urgent action to prevent what could be a devastating blow to South Africa’s education sector.

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