Kaya 959 Point of View with Phemelo Motene

R150 Million Unused While Learners Go Hungry

Loading player...
South Africa’s schooling crisis just got worse. Seven provincial education departments left R150 million unspent money meant to feed children, build classrooms and improve maths and science education. The Department of Basic Education’s latest annual report paints a bleak picture, with Limpopo topping the list, failing to use nearly R70 million in grants. That includes over R33 million for the school nutrition programme - in a country where learners are going hungry. With more than 31,000 teaching posts still vacant and overcrowded classrooms the norm, the failure to use these funds has sparked outrage. This story puts the spotlight on a broken system, where money meant to change lives is left sitting in government coffers. Phemelo speaks to Equal Education Researcher, Sam Beynon.
15 Oct 2025 4PM English South Africa Education · Careers

Other recent episodes

Music Feature: Tupac

On this week’s Music Feature, musicologist Dr Sheldon Leal looks at Tupac Shakur’s life, career and lasting influence nearly 30 years after his death. We also reflect on the rapper’s recent murder conviction, following a jury finding Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of first-degree murder in Tupac’s killing. We revisit…
3 Sep 3PM 26 min

What To Watch: Untold: Raygun, The Gentlemen 2

On this week’s What to Watch, Leroy Marc reviews Untold: Raygun – Breaking Badly on Netflix, The Gentlemen 2, also on Netflix, and Prima Facie, running at the Market Theatre from 17 September to 4 October and much more.
3 Sep 3PM 12 min

FNB Art Joburg returns for its 19th edition

FNB Art Joburg returns to the Sandton Convention Centre, bringing together leading African galleries, emerging artists and collectors. We look at what’s new this year and what visitors can expect from the fair with FNB Events Marketing Lead Nkosana Matyeshana.
3 Sep 3PM 8 min

National Council on GBVF sets priorities to tackle violence against women

The newly operationalised National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide has set out its priorities, including better coordination of the country’s response to GBVF, stronger accountability and identifying the resources needed to tackle the crisis. This comes as government highlights the scale of violence against women, with more than 50,000…
3 Sep 3PM 9 min

Nokuthula Simelane’s story sparks new call for justice

The story of Nokuthula Simelane, who was abducted and disappeared more than 40 years ago, has sparked renewed calls for justice and accountability. Her story was remembered at a gathering at the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela, where her family reflected on her disappearance and the need to keep her…
3 Sep 2PM 16 min
All episodes