The DBE, in partnership with the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) and educator unions, hosted the National Workshop on Budget and Post-Provisioning from 2 to 3 October 2025 in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

The two-day engagement brought together senior education officials, financial experts, provincial representatives and union leaders and representatives from all provinces to discuss strategies for strengthening the management of financial resources and the allocation of teaching posts nationally.

Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, delivered the purpose of the workshop presentation. In his address, DG Mweli outlined the objectives of the workshop, emphasising that it aimed to share critical information on the performance of the education sector and government, and to collectively develop innovative solutions to address ongoing challenges related to financial management and curriculum coverage.

DG Mweli further highlighted the importance of reviewing the performance of Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) and formulating actionable recommendations to strengthen accountability and improve planning processes. He stressed that collaboration between national and provincial departments remains essential to achieving efficiency, equity, and quality in the public education system.

Following his address, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the DBE, Mr Patrick Khunou, together with Mr Simphiwe Ndlovu, Director of Divisional Operations in the Office of the Accountant-General, delivered a presentation on unlawful Persal deductions from employees by service providers. Their session prompted an engaging exchange of ideas and reflections, facilitated by the ELRC Deputy Chairperson, Mr Given Rafapa.

The workshop also featured provincial presentations focusing on spending performance, budget allocations, and the compensation of employees, as well as reports on declaration and consultation processes and the distribution of post-establishment schools. These sessions provided valuable insights into how provinces are managing their post-provisioning processes and budgets to improve efficiency for all schools to receive their staffing establishments.

The event concluded with a Way Forward presentation by DG Mweli, who reiterated key priorities such as strengthening post-provisioning systems, enhancing monitoring mechanisms, and maintaining consistent support to improve quality and sustainability in education delivery.