The provincial Department of Education in the Eastern Cape of South Africa has been plunged into darkness, with its offices in Nelson Mandela Bay disconnected from the power grid since early December. The municipality took this drastic step due to the department’s outstanding debt of over R11 million.

Despite the darkness, the department claims to have reached an agreement with the municipality, assuring that power will be restored to its offices. However, the repercussions of the electricity cut are already evident, with numerous parents and students being turned away, some even seeking to rewrite their matric exams.

Visitors to the education offices have been left filling out forms in the yard and sitting in dark corridors. A security guard revealed that the municipal official had warned the department about the impending power cut in December, forcing officials to leave their offices as early as 1 pm each day.

One senior official lamented the inability to print important documents, such as service awards accompanied by prize money, due to the power outage affecting the computers.

Nelson Mandela Bay municipality spokesperson, Mamela Ndamase, explained that the disconnection was a result of the department’s failure to settle its accounts, despite being notified well in advance. The department had initially owed R46.9 million, but a recent partial payment of R17.9 million reduced the outstanding balance. The spokesperson added that the department promised to pay an additional R17.4 million within seven days and settle the remaining R11.6 million by the end of April.

Eastern Cape education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima acknowledged the department’s debt and revealed that payment arrangements have been made, resulting in the restoration of electricity at district offices. However, the lights were still off when a visit was made to the Sidwell office on a Monday, raising doubts about the actual resolution of the issue.