JOHANNESBURG - The Basic Education Department admits over 31,000 teaching posts across the country have not been filled.
This is despite thousands of qualified teachers sitting at home.
Minister Angie Motshekga made the admission in a reply to a Parliamentary question.
KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape have the highest number of unfilled posts.
Motshekga says the filling of posts is an ongoing process.
She says in order to address immediate challenges, schools are allowed to appoint temporary teachers.