General information, not legal advice. Not a government site and not your school. Results follow the exemption regulations under the South African Schools Act; only the school governing body decides.
School fee exemption 2027: how to apply
An exemption is only for one year. If you need help with fees for 2027, you must apply again, even if you were exempted in 2026. The 2027 school year starts on Wednesday 13 January 2027.
2 points we are still verifying
Rounding: the regulations do not say how to round E. Annexure C illustration 2.1 rounds 8,4% up to 8,5%, so we round up to the next 0,5% step (but never round a value below 2% up to 2%, as in illustration 3.2). Confirm with the provincial department if your result sits close to a step.
More than 10 learners: the table stops at 10. We use the 10-learner column and flag it.
General information about the Schools Act and its regulations, not legal advice. Each school sets its own fees and application dates.
Your 2027 checklist
Find out the 2027 fees. Fees can only be charged if a majority of parents at the school's budget meeting votes for them (Schools Act section 39(1)). The budget must be presented at a parents' meeting called on at least 30 days' notice (section 38(2)), so watch for that notice.
Check what you may qualify for. Enter the 2027 fees and your combined income into the exemption calculator, or look up your income limit.
Get the form from the school. The principal must supply the application form (Annexure B of the regulations).
Gather proof of your combined annual gross income, any investment income or business profit, and the fees for each child at a fee-charging public school.
Apply in writing to the governing body chairperson. The governing body must decide within 30 days and tell you the outcome and reasons in writing within 7 days of deciding.
Appeal if you disagree, in writing to the provincial Head of Department within 30 days of the notice.
Some parents qualify for total exemption without an income test, for example a child in foster care or a parent receiving a social grant for the child. You still need to give the governing body proof: an affidavit, a confirmation affidavit from a social worker or other competent authority, a court order. See automatic exemption.
A worked example
Made-up figures to show the official formula: annual fees of R12 000, combined parents' income of R180 000 a year, and 2 children at fee-charging public schools.
E = 100 × fees ÷ income = 6,67%, rounded up to 7,0%.
From the table for 2 learners: 83% exemption (partial).
Fees still payable for this child: R2 040.00 a year instead of R12 000.
E of 10% or more gives total exemption; below 2% there is no exemption.
No-fee schools
The exemption rules do not apply at no-fee schools, because they do not charge fees. For 2026 the no-fee threshold is R1 835 per learner. The indicative figure published for 2027 is R1 919, which may still change. See no-fee schools.
Frequently asked questions
Does my 2026 school fee exemption carry over to 2027?
No. Regulation 4(1) of the exemption regulations says a parent who wants to be exempted must apply annually, in writing, to the chairperson of the school governing body. Apply again for 2027.
When can I apply for a 2027 exemption?
The regulations do not set one national date. Fees for 2027 are approved by parents at the school's budget meeting, so ask the school for its 2027 fees and its exemption application dates, and apply as early as you can once the fees are known.
My income dropped during the year. Can I apply mid-year?
The regulations do not limit applications to the start of the year. If you fall one month or more in arrears, the governing body must check whether you qualify for exemption before it takes steps to recover the fees (regulation 3(1)(e)).
Is my child's school a no-fee school in 2027?
No-fee schools do not charge fees, so you do not need an exemption there. In 2026, all schools in national quintiles 1 to 3 are no-fee schools. Ask the school or your district office for its 2027 status.
General information, not legal advice. KayaFees gives general information and estimates based on the South African Schools Act and the Minister's regulations on exemption from school fees, as published in the Government Gazette. It is not legal advice and it is not a decision on your application: only the school governing body (or, on appeal, the provincial Head of Department) decides. KayaFees is not a government website and is not connected to the Department of Basic Education, any provincial education department or any school. Check with your school or provincial education department before you rely on a result.