Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has projected that seven provinces will not be able to afford their budgets in the 2027/28 financial year. This is due to budget pressures being experienced by the department, with provinces now scrambling to make it work by cutting some programmes to save others. In the Western Cape, the department has decided to reduce the basket of teaching posts for 2025. This will result in fewer teachers in classrooms, while pupils increase. We are in conversation with Department of Basic Education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga and Executive director of National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa), Basil Manuel.