The Department of Basic Education (DBE), led by Acting Director-General, Dr Granville Whittle, joining virtually, participated in a joint briefing with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) before their respective Portfolio Committees in Cape Town on 3 June 2026. The briefing focussed on progress made in the transfer of under-utilised infrastructure to support teaching and learning across the education sector.
Ms Simoné Geyer: DDG Delivery and Support, Mr Bongani Shabangu: Acting DDG Infrastructure, and Mr Nkosana Thakgedi: Director, Education Management and Governance Development Directorate (EMGD) were in attendance to deliver the DBE presentation. The DHET raised a need for infrastructure for student accommodation, with the DBE subsequently offering relief by providing a list of 1,525 closed schools to choose from. The DHET was advised that although, there was a considerable number of schools with acceptable infrastructure, some of the closed schools’ infrastructure required attention. The expectations are that DHET identifies areas where schools are required, along with schools from the list for consideration. The DBE through provinces, will commence with the decommissioning process with the DPWI for the transfer processes to be finalised. The Committees applauded the KwaZulu-Natal Task Team, led by the Premier in the repurposing of closed schools.
The 6th Parliament Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation had convened two joint meetings with the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure in 2023. The Joint Task Team (JTT) established in 2023, to identify immovable state-owned properties and buildings that can be used to support the Post-School Education and Training Institutions (PSET) in the form of student housing and infrastructure requirements, through the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Committee, must now be revitalised to fast-track the process, along with provincial and local government and parastatals to identify and facilitate the acquisition of suitable immovable assets for PSET institutions.
The Portfolio Committee Chairpersons for Higher Education and Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr Tebogo Letsie and Ms Carol Phiri, said that “since Government has identified education as an apex priority, the interdepartmental collaboration in this regard will assist in the public good of education, especially public TVET colleges and universities, to utilise dignified infrastructure that is fit for purpose”.
Going forward, it was recommended that departments finalise the legally vetted Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), the Terms of Reference (ToR) and Framework in accordance with their respective mandates. The list of properties that require intervention must also be updated and submitted along with a schedule of JTT meetings to fast-track the matter.