It’s back to school for rural schools on Wednesday and as South Africans battle economic hardships, the price of school uniforms is another burden. Shopping for uniforms Shirley Rapilwana is shopping for the 8th grade uniform of Bontle’s daughter. “The school only changes school clothes, so we can’t see used clothes. We have to buy everything new,” he said. Bontle said she’s excited to start her high school career but a little scared because she’ll be going to a new school where she doesn’t know anyone. Christina Chauke from Mabopane said buying school clothes was difficult. “Fortunately…
It’s back to school for rural schools on Wednesday and as South Africans battle economic hardships, the price of school uniforms is another burden.
Shirley Rapilwana was shopping for Bontle’s 8th grade uniform.
“The school only changes school clothes, so we can’t see used clothes. We have to buy everything new,” he said.
Bontle said she’s excited to start her high school career but a little scared because she’ll be going to a new school where she doesn’t know anyone.
Christina Chauke from Mabopane said buying school clothes was difficult. “Fortunately, it’s not all uniforms, I only provide socks and clothes, but my eldest son needs a school bag and a new sports suit,” he said.
“Stress because there is no money, I have to use it [South African Social Security Agency] buy this,” he said.
Chauke said he needed a budget to pay for the taxi home. Wonderboom Hoërskool principal Marius Lezar said the school met with suppliers last year to standardize school colors and clothing.
“New school clothes, including pants, shirts and socks cost R700. It does not include blazers, sports or jerseys,” he said.
Lezar said the uniforms are available at school clothing stores and four other independent suppliers. “At the clothing bank, we also sell pre-owned uniforms donated by matrics at the end of their school careers.”
Mary’s outfitters
Some parents had traveled from Mabopane to shop at Mary’s Outfitters in the Pretoria CBD, where they waited in long queues to do their school shopping before the back-to-school rush.
One of the owners of Mary’s Outfitter, Salmaan Dockrat, said January is the busiest time of the year. Dockrat said they supply most uniforms except for some private and Afrikaans schools.
“For R800 we can give you two standard uniforms. Two shirts, two trousers, two socks and a tie,” he said.
Investigation
The Competition Commission has warned that it will investigate and prosecute schools or suppliers that do not comply with the Uniform Act as parents come to various school suppliers to prepare for the new academic year.
Competition Commission spokesperson Siyabulela Makunga said the commission has successfully sued and entered into settlement agreements with some schools that have run afoul of the law on school uniforms.
“The commission has issued guidelines for the procurement of school uniforms and study materials.
“In the guidelines, the commission encourages schools to choose more than one supplier, so that parents/guardians have the right to choose while ensuring the affordability of school uniform items,” he said.
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Makunga said that when schools decide to have one supplier, they must ensure that there is a competitive bidding process for the tender.
“We encourage parents to actively participate [school governing bodies] and principals in the need to comply with the guidelines.
“It is in the interest of learning and teaching that the school does not face continuous litigation, which may take forever.
“These guidelines promote more inclusive decision-making on how and where to get school uniforms,” he said.
“If found guilty by the Competition Tribunal, the supplier may have to pay an administrative penalty of up to 10% of total revenue.”
I ran satisfied
Curro is one of the schools investigated by the commission in 2019. It denied wrongdoing and signed an agreement to comply with the code of conduct, including making uniform items as common as possible, which will be obtained from various suppliers. and limit unique uniform items to the basic mandatory uniform.
Curro did not respond to a request for comment.
South African Teachers’ Union chief executive Chris Klopper said school uniforms cost less than four to five sets of clothes for school.
“Uniforms also reduce bully behavior. Children can be cruel and disruptive children who come to school in inappropriate clothes,” he added.
Klopper said school uniforms also establish the principles of unity and team behavior that are important in schools.
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