There is uncertainty over whether schools will be Covid-19 ready for next Monday's reopening, with one union already threatening court action.
Bhengu's comments came after information that there was insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) in schools, and no confirmation on whether all teachers would be tested for Covid-19 before school starts.
Basil Manuel, executive director of the National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA (Naptosa), echoed concerns about PPEs not being delivered in some schools, including in Khayelitsha, which is identified as a "hotspot" in the Cape Metro.
He said the Western Cape seemed to have done better than most provinces on the first day back for school management teams, followed by Gauteng, but other provinces did not fare that well, with teachers and staff reluctant to return.
READ | The impact of Covid-19 school closures on education in SA
Another concern centres around the cleaning of schools as they do not want to sanitise over the dust and dirt that have gathered from schools being closed since March 18.
