By Everson Luhanga
- Former basic education minister Angie Motshekga told Parliament in April 2024 there were 31,462 vacant posts in South African state schools.
- Unemployed teachers are starting tutoring services in their communities to earn money while they wait for full time teaching posts.
Nomzamo Khuzwayo qualified as a maths and science teacher in 2021 through the Funza Lushaka bursary. Four years later, she is still unemployed.
“I had high hopes of getting a job immediately after graduating,” she said. “Four years after being an unemployed teacher, I have lost hope of getting a job and changing my life.”
Nomzamo says unemployment pushed her into depression. She depends on her grandmother. “I feel worthless as I am the one who is supposed to bring bread to the table.”
She is not alone. Thousands of teachers sit at home without work.
Former basic education minister Angie Motshekga told Parliament in April 2024 there were 31,462 vacant teacher posts in state schools. KwaZulu-Natal had more than 7,000 vacancies. The Eastern Cape had over 6,100. Limpopo had nearly 5,000.
The department’s National Recruitment Database listed at least 12,700 qualified unemployed educators in 2025.
Many unemployed teachers are now starting tutoring services to survive. They offer extra lessons to Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners in their communities.
Subjects include maths, accounting, physical sciences, life sciences and business studies.
January is a key time. Schools reopen and high school learners need extra help.
Tutoring needs no money to start. Teachers use their knowledge, a small space and time after school. In townships, many parents pay because their children struggle in overcrowded classrooms.
Research shows more than half of primary learners sit in classes with over 40 pupils.
Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube said in late 2025 that over 30,000 teachers resigned or were dismissed over five years.
For many jobless teachers, tutoring is survival while they wait for the posts they were promised.
Pictured above: An unemployed teacher offering extra lessons to high school learners in a township.
Image source: Supplied
