Parents at no-fee schools, institutions established to serve South Africa’s poorest learners, are facing increasing pressure to pay so-called “voluntary donations” as high as R1,500, according to a recent report. This practice, which contravenes laws protecting children from exclusion for non-payment, has seen some learners barred from class, denied reports, and their families pushed into debt.
The issue was brought to light after leaked bank statements from Ulwazi High School in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, revealed alleged misuse of funds by the school’s principal, Mihlali Makhalima. The principal has since been suspended.
Pilasande Mkuzo, an attorney from the Equal Education Law Centre, contextualized the problem, stating it is most predominant in provinces that have suffered the most severe budget cuts.
“The schools who are supposed to be funded by the department have seen over the years the budget go down [with] extreme budget cuts,” Mkuzo explained. “What then happens? There’s a gap there that schools now need to fill.”
While the South African Schools Act (SASA) allows School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to fundraise, Mkuzo emphasized that these contributions must remain voluntary.
“They are by their nature voluntary. Meaning if you have it, you can give it. If you’re able to, you can give it. But it is not compulsory and should never be used as a weapon against a child or their parent in terms of them accessing their school,” she stated.
When such coercion occurs, Mkuzo said the recourse is to report the school to the provincial education department. She noted that for a no-fee school, the decision to charge any formal fees goes against the SGB’s responsibilities. The law allows the Head of Department to revoke the powers of an SGB that is failing in its duties.
Mkuzo identified a combination of government budget cuts and local-level corruption as the dual causes of the crisis.
“Whenever we talk budgets… we see that education is usually at the bitter end of getting budget cuts,” she said, while also acknowledging “there is corruption and mismanagement of funds in schools.”
She warned that the continuation of this trend risks eroding the fundamental right to basic education.
“In the economic times in which we find ourselves… where those fees are charged we are looking at a possibility where the idea of free basic education is moving further and further away from us,” Mkuzo said.
Rather than creating a new oversight body, Mkuzo advocates for stronger accountability and implementation of existing policies. She urged parents who feel pressured to pay to speak up and seek assistance.
“Parents really should speak up and stand for their rights,” she said, highlighting that organizations like the Equal Education Law Centre offer their services at no charge to help communities address these unlawful practices.