Benoni: More than 1000 learners at Liverpool Secondary School in Actonville, Benoni, have reportedly been forced to learn in darkness following an electricity disconnection that has exposed growing financial and infrastructure challenges within Gauteng schools.
The allegations were raised by Michael Waters, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Spokesperson for Education, who accused the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) of failing to adequately support schools financially and neglecting urgent service delivery issues affecting teaching and learning.
According to Waters, electricity at Liverpool Secondary has been cut since 23 April 2026, leaving 1172 learners and teachers struggling to function under difficult conditions.
During a recent oversight inspection, the party allegedly found that teachers were unable to print learning materials, while nine smartboards remained unusable due to the power outage.
The situation comes at a critical time, with examinations scheduled to begin on 20 May.
“The school is clearly ill-equipped to cope,” Waters said.
The school’s challenges reportedly extend beyond electricity. “Water pressure has allegedly dropped significantly, forcing learners to queue for access to basic sanitation facilities. Financially, the school is said to be facing severe strain, with a monthly municipal bill of R90,000, outstanding debt nearing R500,000, and a budget reduction of more than 60%,” Waters added.
Waters has further criticised the provincial education department for what he described as shifting financial responsibilities onto schools that lack the resources to manage mounting operational costs.
He further accused the provincial government, led by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, of failing to prioritise learners’ education and basic needs.
The DA has called on the Public Protector to investigate the matter and broader issues surrounding utility disconnections at schools across Gauteng.
“The repeated service disruptions are undermining education quality and depriving learners of safe and functional learning environments,” Waters argued.
The GDE has previously acknowledged challenges relating to unpaid municipal accounts affecting some schools, but disputes have emerged over the extent of the crisis.
