Automatic exemption from school fees
Some parents and caregivers qualify for total exemption without any income test. They only need to give the school proof.
General information about the exemption regulations, not legal advice.
Who qualifies
- You are responsible for a child placed in a foster home, youth care centre, place of safety or orphanage.
- You are a kinship caregiver of an orphan, or of an abandoned child with no visible means of support.
- You receive a social grant on behalf of the child (for example the child support grant).
- The learner is a child who heads a household.
Proof
Give the governing body one of: an affidavit; a confirmation affidavit from a social worker or other competent authority; a court order (regulation 4(3)).
If none of these applies, use the exemption calculator to check the income test.
Frequently asked questions
Does the child support grant give automatic exemption?
Yes. A person who receives a social grant on behalf of a child qualifies for automatic exemption, with proof.
Is my income checked for automatic exemption?
No. Automatic exemption is a total exemption that does not use the income formula.
How long does the school have to answer?
The governing body must tell you in writing within 7 days of considering your proof whether you qualify, and must include your right to appeal if you do not.
General information, not legal advice. KayaFees gives general information and estimates based on the South African Schools Act and the Minister's regulations on exemption from school fees, as published in the Government Gazette. It is not legal advice and it is not a decision on your application: only the school governing body (or, on appeal, the provincial Head of Department) decides. KayaFees is not a government website and is not connected to the Department of Basic Education, any provincial education department or any school. Check with your school or provincial education department before you rely on a result.