18 October 2026 · Reporting based on the sources listed below.

A spending breakdown draws scrutiny

The Gauteng Department of Education has come under renewed scrutiny over nearly R96 million reported as expenditure on travel, accommodation, meeting venues and related services across the 2023/24 to 2025/26 financial years. The Democratic Alliance has called for a detailed explanation of the costs and their educational purpose.

The figures, reported by BusinessTech on 16 October from departmental replies and opposition statements, are expenditure categories. They are not, on their own, evidence of fraud, corruption or unlawful procurement.

Where the reported money went

The reported breakdown includes about R47.88 million for commercial conference facilities and venues, R21.67 million for road transport and shuttle services, R19.61 million for accommodation and R3.04 million for air travel. Travel-agency services, vehicle hire and catering make up smaller amounts.

The department listed destinations including Boksburg, Heidelberg, Bronkhorstspruit, Birchwood and Johannesburg among locations associated with high travel expenditure. The R96 million total should not be described as money spent exclusively on travel to those places: it covers several types of expenditure across three years.

A shuttle-record discrepancy needs an explanation

The DA pointed to an apparent mismatch in the 2025/26 information: a reported R14.619 million for road transport and shuttles, but a booking log said to contain just one shuttle booking for that year. The discrepancy has not been independently resolved and could involve differing accounting or record-keeping definitions.

The opposition party says it will seek a fuller itemised breakdown and reasons for the venue and transport choices. The department’s detailed response to those follow-up questions was not available in the material reviewed for this article.

Why the questions matter to schools

The debate comes amid concern over delayed allocations to Gauteng schools. The DA has previously cited R971 million in outstanding Norms and Standards payments, warning that delays affect the purchase of teaching materials and routine school operations.

A sound accountability test will require the department to show which meetings and travel were authorised, what public purpose they served, how suppliers were chosen and whether less expensive options were considered. Until the records are reconciled, the responsible conclusion is that questions have been raised — not that wrongdoing has been established.

Sources and verification

BusinessTech report, 16 October 2026: Source ↗

Official department identity and location: Source ↗