Cape Town private school shut down for running grades 8–11 without registration

Parents have been left aghast and scrambling to find new schools for their children.

"They had registered with our department in 2018, but they registered for grades R to seven. In 2024, we became aware that they extended their operation to grade eight to 11 learners as well. That's where the problems come in. They were operating for those other grades illegally.

"We have to address that immediately, and we're concerned about the learners because their academic qualifications are null and void, and we had to apply for an extension of the curriculum, which was granted at the end of last year.

"After everything that's happened, the school has, on their own, decided to close down, which has also created some issues because we need to now place these learners and assist parents in placing them.

"We've been in contact with lots of parents. A lot have already registered their children in other schools.

Other parents want to get into public schools, but the choices they want to go o are proving difficult because of the demand in some of our top schools."

Affected learners will not lose a school year when they transfer to another institution, Hammond notes.

She advised parents enrolling their children in independent schools to request a registration certificate and verify which grades are officially registered, to prevent similar issues in the future.

To listen to Hammond in conversation with Africa Melane on CapeTalk's Breakfast Show, use the audio player below: