Basic Education threatens legal action after Tshwane cuts power and water to head office over R104 million schools dept

The Department of Basic Education's head office in Pretoria, facing service disconnection over a disputed debt.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has threatened legal action against the City of Tshwane after the municipality disconnected electricity and water services to the department’s head office in Pretoria, despite the department insisting that its municipal account is fully paid up and currently reflects a credit balance.

The dispute centres on an alleged debt of more than R104 million linked to approximately 200 schools within the Tshwane metro.

According to the DBE, the debt belongs to public schools administered by the Gauteng Department of Education and not the national department.

The City of Tshwane’s Executive Mayor, Nasiphi Moya, announced the disconnection on X on Wednesday.