The Gauteng Education Department said it had intensified its crackdown on illegally operating independent schools across the province. The department said the operation was aimed at ensuring that learners attend schools that are properly registered, safe and compliant with required standards.
Education MEC Lebogang Maile said officials had visited 61 schools suspected of operating illegally between January and September 2026. Of these, 32 schools were served with closure letters.
Maile said seven of the schools had already stopped operating, while four later applied for registration with the department. Two school directors were also arrested as part of the department’s action against illegal schools.
The MEC urged parents to check whether schools are registered before paying fees. He also encouraged parents to report schools they suspect of operating illegally to the Gauteng Education Department.
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