South Africa: Motshekga Calls On Parents to Pay School Fees

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has urged parents to continue paying school fees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at a briefing on an array of issues, she said there are two types of public schools in the country, the fee-paying and no-fee paying schools. She explained that fee-paying schools are allowed to charge school fees as determined at the annual general meeting of the School Governing Body (SGB). "Therefore, the payment of school fees in such schools is mandatory," she said at Sunday's briefing. She also cited the South African Schools Act (SASA) of 1996, which states that SGBs of fee-paying schools have the powers to enforce parents to pay school fees through legal means. "The liability of parents is determined through an affordability formula, which can be used to determine whether a parent can be exempted partially or fully from paying school fees." Meanwhile, she also raised concerns about schools that are charging registration deposits and exorbitant amounts to pay staff the Section 42 bonuses. This was despite the moratorium placed on the public service salary bill. "We must advise schools to avoid such temptations, as the first is illegal. Secondly, it is completely unreasonable especially as it is done and enforced under the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic." Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI)