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As the new school year begins, many parents across the country are once again facing steep prices
for school uniforms. From shoes to shirts, families say uniform costs have become prohibitively
expensive and are causing major financial strain.
“It’s ridiculous how much they charge for a simple white shirt with the school logo,” said Malamule’s
mother Thuli Nkosi. She spent over R800 purchasing just two shirts and trousers for her son at a
local uniform supplier.
Like Nkosi, parents describe being shocked at quotes of R300 for a shirt, R200 for shorts, and R500
or more for a sweater or jacket. Many schools require multiple uniforms for sports, choir, and other
activities which ratchet up costs further.
Families with multiple children face massive uniform bills tallying into the thousands of rands. This is
a major blow to low- and middle-income households grappling with January’s expenses.
Suppliers blame rising fabric and production costs for the hikes. However, parents allege uniform
makers and schools profit heavily from monopolizing mandatory purchases.
“The suppliers know we have no choice but to pay whatever they demand. We’ve begged schools to
be more flexible, but they don’t want to change,” said Cape Town’s father Michael Dube.
Schools argue uniforms promote discipline and identity. Yet poorer families constantly stress over
sourcing funds. Many turn to loans or credit to cover back-to-school uniform costs.
Activist groups like Equal Education have long pushed for greater regulation of uniform prices and
allowing more affordable options. But schools largely retain strict, expensive uniform codes.
“Unaffordable uniforms end up excluding learners from lower-income families,” said an Equal
Education spokesperson. “All children have a right to access education regardless of income.”
As unemployed and struggling parents brace for another taxing uniform shopping experience, many
hope schools will reconsider their stance. Greater latitude on suppliers and styles could ease massive
financial burdens.
Until then, families have little recourse but to pay exorbitant prices which makes the dream of an
equal, inclusive education more distant for the poor. For many, the soaring cost of uniforms remains
a major barrier to learning rather than the great equaliser schools envision.
