The Eastern Cape Department of Education says it is facing a R1.7 billion infrastructure funding shortfall, forcing it to defer 320 planned school infrastructure projects while hundreds of schools damaged by recent floods are still awaiting repairs. Gade said the province’s infrastructure backlog has been exacerbated by successive natural disasters. “These unfunded commitments have had a significant impact on infrastructure planning,” Gade said. As a result, the department has deferred 320 planned infrastructure projects. The department has also received R354 million through the School Infrastructure Backlogs Grant to eradicate pit latrine toilets at 123 schools during the current financial year.