The following data reflects the minimum cash outlay required for a learner entering a public fee-paying high school this month:
Category Essential Items Grade 8 2026 Price Uniform Essentials Blazer, 2x Shirts, Jersey, 2x Trousers/Skirts R2,714.90 Footwear Toughees Leather Shoes 2-pack Socks R408.98 Stationery Pack 192pg Books, Files, Exam Pads, Writing Kit R1,336.90 Specialist Tools Scientific Calculator Casio Maths Set R417.00 School Bag Heavy-duty Ergonomic Backpack R138.00 TOTAL Total Cost R5,015.78The 166-Hour Barrier to Education
The human cost of these requirements is even more stark when measured against labour. Following the recent gazetting of the 2026 National Minimum Wage to R30.23 per hour, a parent earning the minimum wage must now work for 166 hours, more than a full month of 40-hour work weeks, just to afford the uniform and stationery required to walk through a school gate.
