Daily Digest | South African parents in for a school fees increase in 2026 - why this is concerning

As parents and pupils prepare for the start of the 2026 academic year, education activists have raised concerns about the impact of rising school fees on access to quality education. According to a News24 report, South Africa’s inflation rate stood at 3.4% in September. However, private school fees are expected to increase well above inflation, with some schools now charging more than R400,000 per student. Jones Netshipise and Mpho Mashita talk to Education Activist, Henrick Makaneta about why this should be concerning