Western Cape public schools paid a total of over R36 million in bank charges last year, at an average of R23 572 per school.
However, this average obscures a number of significant outliers: 40 of our schools have reported paying over R100 000 per year in bank charges, with the top 10 highest bank charges alone totalling over R1.5 million in 2021:
Fee-charging school |
District |
|
School A |
Metro South |
R188 461 |
School B |
Eden & Central Karoo |
R179 184 |
School C |
Metro North |
R166 220 |
School D |
Metro South |
R154 031 |
School E |
Cape Winelands |
R152 378 |
School F |
Metro East |
R151 746 |
School G |
Metro North |
R151 545 |
School H |
Metro South |
R148 914 |
School I |
Metro South |
R137 457 |
School J |
Cape Winelands |
R132 575 |
Total |
|
R1 562 511 |
Alarmingly, one of our no-fee schools is paying over R100 000 a year in bank charges, with a further 8 no-fee schools paying more than R50 000.
No-fee school |
District |
|
School K |
Metro Central |
R114 526 |
School L |
Metro North |
R95 936 |
School M |
West Coast |
R80 212 |
School N |
Cape Winelands |
R75 024 |
School O |
Metro East |
R73 041 |
School P |
Metro South |
R67 030 |
School Q |
Metro East |
R56 161 |
School R |
Metro East |
R53 328 |
School S |
Metro East |
R50 237 |
Total |
|
R665 495 |
While account holders must pay for services rendered, we would like to ensure that school funds are primarily spent on learners’ education, especially where our no-fee schools are concerned.
The Department has written to the 10 fee-charging and 9 no-fee schools with the highest charges for their input regarding the expense, and what assistance they would like from the Department to help them reduce the charges.
We have also reached out to senior managers of some of the major banks on an informal basis to discuss the situation, and I appreciate their willingness to examine the issue to find ways to reduce the costs. I will be engaging formally with the major banks for their assistance once all of our data is collated.
We will offer schools our support in finding ways to reduce this cost, so that learners receive the full benefit of investments in education.
Kerry Mauchline
Spokesperson to Minister David Maynier
Western Cape Ministry of Education
Kerry.Mauchline@westerncape.gov.za