ActionSA in Gauteng has learned with disappointment of an illegal scheme run and controlled by School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in low-income and no-fee-paying schools. These SGBs and school management have imposed a mandatory donation fee, typically ranging from R100 to R200, on parents in poor communities. Failure to pay this fee results in children being denied access to schoolbooks, many of which are provided free of charge by the provincial government.
On Wednesday, January 15, ActionSA assisted learner’s parents at Ngubela Primary School in Thokoza with the unlawful R200 mandated donations which were enforced, resulting in learners who did not pay these donations not receiving schoolbooks. Following ActionSA’s intervention in assisting those parents, we received reports from parents from many low-income and no-fee-paying schools across the province that their children are being denied books if they do not pay a mandatory donation fee to SGB fundraisers.
This mandatory donation fee is unlawful and unconstitutional. Under the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 (SASA), schools and SGBs are not authorized to demand mandatory donations from parents in low-income and no-fee-paying schools. Withholding books and other stationery as punishment for non-payment is unconstitutional and violates the right to access education for all learners. These actions by schools and SGBs in the province not only contravene the SASA but also infringe upon Section 29 of the South African Constitution, which guarantees the right to basic education.
Furthermore, Section 5A of the SASA Act specifies that no learner may be denied access to any educational resource due to their inability to pay a fee. The punitive actions taken by these schools directly contradict this provision and perpetuate educational inequality.
ActionSA will compile a list of schools reported by parents and submit it to the MEC of Education’s office for urgent intervention. We request all parents to report schools enforcing such unlawful policies to their nearest Education Department District offices. If they do not receive adequate assistance, they should bring this matter to ActionSA. The prevalence of this scheme suggests a well-orchestrated money-making scheme by principals in cahoots with unscrupulous SGB members.
We cannot allow parents in low-income communities to be exploited by SGBs and school principals, nor can we turn a blind to their children’s right to access education being denied due to the non-payment of donation fees.
ActionSA is committed to ensuring that learners’ rights to an education are protected and that those in power do not abuse the authority bestowed upon them.
ActionSA Condemns SGBs Charging Donation Fees in Low-income Schools in Gauteng
ActionSA in Gauteng has learned with disappointment of an illegal scheme run and controlled by School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in low-income and no-fee-paying schools. These SGBs and school management have imposed a mandatory donation fee, typically ranging from R100 to R200, on parents in poor communities. Failure to pay this fee results in children being denied access to schoolbooks, many of which are provided free of charge by the provincial government.
On Wednesday, January 15, ActionSA assisted learner’s parents at Ngubela Primary School in Thokoza with the unlawful R200 mandated donations which were enforced, resulting in learners who did not pay these donations not receiving schoolbooks. Following ActionSA’s intervention in assisting those parents, we received reports from parents from many low-income and no-fee-paying schools across the province that their children are being denied books if they do not pay a mandatory donation fee to SGB fundraisers.
This mandatory donation fee is unlawful and unconstitutional. Under the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 (SASA), schools and SGBs are not authorized to demand mandatory donations from parents in low-income and no-fee-paying schools. Withholding books and other stationery as punishment for non-payment is unconstitutional and violates the right to access education for all learners. These actions by schools and SGBs in the province not only contravene the SASA but also infringe upon Section 29 of the South African Constitution, which guarantees the right to basic education.
Furthermore, Section 5A of the SASA Act specifies that no learner may be denied access to any educational resource due to their inability to pay a fee. The punitive actions taken by these schools directly contradict this provision and perpetuate educational inequality.
ActionSA will compile a list of schools reported by parents and submit it to the MEC of Education’s office for urgent intervention. We request all parents to report schools enforcing such unlawful policies to their nearest Education Department District offices. If they do not receive adequate assistance, they should bring this matter to ActionSA. The prevalence of this scheme suggests a well-orchestrated money-making scheme by principals in cahoots with unscrupulous SGB members.
We cannot allow parents in low-income communities to be exploited by SGBs and school principals, nor can we turn a blind to their children’s right to access education being denied due to the non-payment of donation fees.
ActionSA is committed to ensuring that learners’ rights to an education are protected and that those in power do not abuse the authority bestowed upon them.