TO: ALL MEDIA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: 16 SEPTEMBER 2026

LEGISLATURE’S e-GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CONDUCTS OVERSIGHT VISITS TO EDUCATION FACILITIES ON SMART SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

From Thursday, 17 September 2026, Chairperson of the Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on e-Government & Research Development Committee, Honourable Mbali Hlophe, will lead the Committee as it undertakes a series of oversight visits to education facilities in the province.

Starting at the Moshate Secondary School in Sedibeng and Johannesburg School in Johannesburg, the visits intend to assess the state of ICT infrastructure supporting digital systems.

The visit to Moshate Secondary follows engagements with the Gauteng Departments of Education and e-Government, during which the Committee identified concerns regarding ICT infrastructure reliability, network capacity, maintenance challenges, and the impact of ICT infrastructure education service delivery.

The Portfolio Committee’s interest is to understand the investment in ICT infrastructure and connectivity which is enabling the improved teaching and learning outcomes through digital education system, classroom connectivity, digital learning tools, learning and educator access to technology and related educational plartforms.

Among the issues the Committee will be probing during the visits are:


•Inadequate network reliability, maintenance and support at schools;
•Delays in ICT Infrastructure
•Incomplete connectivity and inadequate connectivity
•Inadequate funding of infrastructure
•Inadequate funding and Dependance on temporary connection solutions

The visits form part of a phased programme of oversight visits to education facilities across the province, at which the Departments of Education and e-Government will present on the implementation, progress and challenges of the province’s Smart School Programme initiatives.

ISSUED BY THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE’S MEDIA SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON e-GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT, HONOURABLE MBALI HLOPHE

Media are invited to attend. For enquiries and accreditation, contact Ms Valerie Langa, on 081 011 7449 or vlanga@gpl.gov.za