UPDATED
A list of leading Tier-1 rugby state high schools:
| # | STATE SCHOOL | CITY/TOWN | REG | FEES |
BOARDING | TOTAL |
| 1 | Maritzburg College | Pietermaritzburg | KZN | R68 100 | R100 600 | R168 700 |
| 2 | Durban HS | Durban | KZN | R68 220 | R79 010 | R157 900 |
| 3 | Pretoria BH | Pretoria | BUL | R70 200 | R85 900 | R156 100 |
| 4 | Grey HS | Gqeberha | EP | R68 400 | R84 000 | R152 400 |
| 5 | Westville | Durban | KZN | R65 500 | R84 900 | R150 400 |
| 6 | Glenwood | Durban | KZN | R64 590 | R83 200 | R147 790 |
| 7 | KES | Johannesburg | LIO | R69 870 | R76 300 | R146 170 |
| 8 | Rondebosch | Cape Town | WC | R68 900 | R65 000 | R133 900 |
| 9 | Jeppe | Johannesburg | LIO | R59 200 | R72 400 | R131 600 |
| 10 | Northwood | Durban | KZN | R65 450 | R65 000 | R130 450 |
| 11 | Wynberg | Cape Town | WC | R62 350 | R68 100 | R130 450 |
| 12 | SACS | Cape Town | WC | R61 000 | R63 000 | R124 000 |
| 13 | Paul Roos | Stellenbosch | WC | R57 330 | R65 000 | R122 330 |
| 14 | Queen’s | Komani | BOR | R48 800 | R66 800 | R115 600 |
| 15 | Selborne | East London | BOR | R51 480 | R62 700 | R114 180 |
| 16 | Paarl Gim | Paarl | WC | R46 000 | R67 000 | R113 000 |
| 17 | Affies | Pretoria | BUL | R56 460 | R55 500 | R111 960 |
| 18 | Menlopark | Pretoria | BUL | R53 295 | R52 500 | R105 795 |
| 19 | HJS Paarl BH | Paarl | WC | R44 900 | R59 900 | R104 800 |
| 20 | Grey College | Bloemfontein | FS | R43 660 | R48 000 | R91 660 |
| 21 | Garsfontein | Pretoria | BUL | R43 520 | R48 000 | R91 520 |
| 22 | Monument | Krugersdorp | LIO | R42 000 | R49 500 | R91 500 |
| 23 | Dale | Qonce | BOR | R33 000 | R57 708 | R90 708 |
| 24 | Waterkloof | Pretoria | BUL | R45 280 | R44 200 | R89 480 |
| 25 | Boland Landbou | Paarl | WC | R42 500 | R45 780 | R88 280 |
| 26 | Durbanville | Cape Town | WC | R37 600 | R39 200 | R76 800 |
| 27 | Oakdale | Riversdale | WC | R31 320 | R44 581 | R75 901 |
| 28 | Outeniqua | George | WC | R31 658 | R37 662 | R69 320 |
| 29 | Drostdy | Worcester | WC | R29 500 | R39 500 | R69 000 |
| 30 | Diamantveld | Kimberley | GRQ | R24 550 | R40 150 | R64 700 |
| 31 | Brandwag (EP) | Kariega | EP | R21 050 | R41 800 | R62 850 |
| 32 | Jim Fouche | Bloemfontein | FS | R22 770 | R32 400 | R55 170 |
| 33 | Voortrekker (Beth) | Bethlehem | GRF | R22 500 | R26 400 | R48 900 |
| 34 | Witteberg | Bethlehem | GRF | R19 300 | R25 000 | R44 300 |
| 35 | Pearson | Gqeberha | EP | R42 900 | R0 000 | R42 900 |
| 36 | Noordheuwel | Krugersdorp | LIO | R38 290 | R0 000 | R38 290 |
| 37 | Stellenberg | Cape Town | WC | R37 600 | R0 000 | R37 600 |
| 38 | Framesby | Gqeberha | EP | R35 640 | R0 000 | R35 640 |
| 39 | Hudson Park | East London | BOR | R32 835 | R0 000 | R32 835 |
| 40 | Goudveld | Welkom | GRF | R20 900 | R0 000 | R20 900 |
Business Tech has published its list of the most expensive schools in South Africa
https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/741559/the-most-expensive-private-schools-in-south-africa-in-2024-with-one-now-at-r400000-a-year/
| # | Independent School | Location | 2024 Fees | 2023 Fees |
| 1 | Hilton | Hilton, KZN | R397 660 | R369 920 |
| 2 | Michaelhouse | Balgowan, KZN | R368 000 | R347 680 |
| 3 | St Andrew’s | Makhanda, EC | R363 879 | R340 869 |
| 4 | St John’s | Johannesburg, GP | R352 612 | R331 091 |
| 5 | Kearsney | Botha’s Hill, KZN | R350 130 | R326 480 |
| 6 | Bishops | Cape Town, WC | R341 430 | R311 960 |
| 7 | St Alban’s | Pretoria, GP | R328 920 | R307 350 |
| 8 | Kingswood | Makhanda, EC | R318 210 | R292 710 |
| 9 | St Stithians | Johannesburg, GP | R302 470 | R280 065 |
| 10 | St David’s (Inanda) | Johannesburg, GP | R292 840 | R269 910 |
| 11 | St Benedict’s | Johannesburg, GP | R281 854 | R260 670 |
| 12 | St Charles | Pietermaritzburg, KZN | R260 950 | R243 900 |
| 13 | Woodridge | Thornhill, EC | R247 740 | R229 389 |
| 14 | Clifton (excl boarding) | Durban, KZN | R186 426 | R179 119 |
| Not listed | ||||
| Helpmekaar (incl boarding) | Johannesburg, GP | R154 220 |
WILL THE NEW BASIC EDUCATION LAWS HAVE AN IMPACT?
It seems school governing bodies will have their powers curtailed in terms of language policies and admission policies. This could have a dramatic impact on schools who have bursary/ scholarship programmes with a bias towards attracting rugby players. Afrikaans medium schools in particular could face difficult times if the provincial government mandates teaching in both English and Afrikaans. Any thoughts/ ideas on the impact of the bill on School Boy Rugby?
@Snelvuur (Comment #29)
I never said my ancestors were oppressed, reel it in buddy …the Irish knew plenty about hardship
@Grasshopper (Comment #27)
I really don’t care about this argument, but any white English (or Afrikaans) South African crying about oppression is an awfully bad look. Doing so while living in a country built on the spoils of oppression is even worse.
@Skywalker (Comment #14)
Escalation much? Michaelhouse cost R850 per term when my boet was there in the early 80’s!
@Deon (Comment #26)
Not scared of any numbers you spew out, all just googled or CHAT GPT’d anyway. It is funny how 14 of the top 15 schools are English medium……for 40 years souties were oppressed too. Not just the concentration camps for Boers boet, selective history….
@Grasshopper (Comment #25)
Scared of those numbers and reality again Mr Arithmophobe? Lmao. You love lying but running away when caught out. This is a SBR blog, not Sowetan Live. Domkop.
@Deon (Comment #24)
Thanks Deon for the lesson, NOT!
@Grasshopper (Comment #21)
Time for introspection and a lesson in being a scholar, although we have beyond doubt established you are completely innumerate.
Mafu Solomon Rakometsi: The Transformation of Black School Education in South Africa, 1950-1994:A Historical Perspective, Ph.D. thesis, University of the Free State, 2008.
C. Nwaila, Black English and Education in South Africa, PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, 1997.
South African Democracy Trust: The Road to Democracy in South Africa, Unisa Press, 2004 et seq., Volume 2, Chapter 7, Part 1, The Soweto Uprising, Sifiso Mxolosi Ndlovu.
Cottesloe Declaration Statistics 1953-1960
@Grasshopper (Comment #21)
Crying again. Yes, there were differences in spending on black vs white schools, and that was documented and ito of an Act establishing black public schools (illegal before 1953, hence only max 300 black Matrics p.a. before 1953, or zero under the Natal Shepstonism Acts).)After 1953 56% of education spending went to black schools and it increased by 30% p.a. So easy to verify. Tell me if I must help you. No such distinction between Afrikaans and English, except under English rule who despised Afrikaans public education and made it illegal. Google Laerskool Groote Schuur etc. Just the other day. Nothing like we had when education in Afrikaans was illegal under the English. You are talking kak again. Stop moaning and whining and rather embrace the facts.
@Grasshopper (Comment #21)
Bro, you are crazy if you believe yourself that the government would subsidize an Afrikaans laaitie better than an English speaking laaitie for the same input.
@Deon (Comment #19)
Yes boet, I only had 6 teachers in the family, two of which where Head of School, one the 80s and one in the 90s. Also, like there was no difference in subsidies between Indian, Black and white schools…..
Lyk vir my of Afrikaanse skole baie beter waarde vir geld bied as dit gaan oor balans tussen akademie, sport en kultuur.
@Grasshopper (Comment #15)
Nope, the subsidies were identical, and no distinction was made between language of instruction. Just another Sprinkaan bs conspiracy theory. I know this as I asked the Director of Education in the 80’s
@Skywalker (Comment #17)
Could just be a simple case of supply and demand, KZN as a province has the largest number of students in the country so there must be a premium on space at these KZN traditional boys schools. Add to this a large, relatively well off Indian community who puts a premium on quality education.
@Grasshopper (Comment #15)
Interesting, I did not know that. Could certainly play a role. Anyone have any insight on this?
@Skywalker (Comment #14)
Of the top 15, 14 are traditional English speaking schools…
@Skywalker (Comment #14)
My theory is a legacy one, that KZN English speaking schools got a lower Gov subsidy in the past and this has continued. Traditional Afrikaans schools got much more. I might be wrong. The costs are obviously higher for the KZN schools….
@KatzRugga (Comment #13)
I had noted this difference in Jan when this was first posted, and seeing it again now I am really struck by the cost difference. Of the top 10 most expensive Gov schools, KZN has 4 of the top 6, and 5 of the top 10. Add to that the fact that KZN has 3 of the top 5 most expensive Private schools as well (positions 1, 2 and 5), and you would have to say KZN has the most expensive Boys Schools in the country overall. I dont really know how or why this has happened. It doesnt make any sense though, considering that KZN certainly doesn’t have the highest salaries in the country!…in fact between the 3 major cities of JHB, CPT and KZN, KZN is certainly the lowest in terms of salary ranges.
VALUE FOR MONEY SCHOOLS?
Would be interested in comments on ‘Value for money’ schools. Although I do believe there’s a fit for every child!
There’s a perception that the KZN schools are accommodating a lot of kids outside KZN. Could that be the reason for these above average school fees?
@buitestaander (Comment #11)
Ah, iemand met verstand.
Hoër skoolgelde impliseer minder leerders in ‘n klas, beter fasiliteite, groter vakkeuses, dikwels ‘n sterker vermoë om relevant te bly itv die behoeftes van die tyd, en ‘n maak ‘n groter fokus op die holistiese ontwikkeling van leerders moontlik. Hoër skoolgelde impliseer nie noodwendig dat skole na ‘n hoër vlak van uitnemendheid beweeg nie. Eventueel is dit mense, en nie fondse nie, wat skole maak of breek. Hulpbronne vergemaklik egter die reis na uitnemendheid, veral wanneer dit verantwoordelik aangewend word.
@Smallies (Comment #9) Toemaar Smallies, ek het eindelose respek vir Grey, en ek bedoel dit, maar plaas dinge maar net in n baie wyer, meer volledige perspektief. En nee, geen afgod,ek stel maar baie minder belang in my Alma Mater as meeste hier doen in hulle skole, en ek glo vas al die sogenaamde groot skole, PRG ingesluit, is totaal overrated.Ek het net so baie respek vir die Paarlse skole. Uitnemende instansies, maar ek verkies steeds die skool naaste aan die huis in meeste gevalle.
@Deon (Comment #7)
Ou Boerboe…….ag shit sorry Deon,jy moet tog nie so n afgod van n skooljie maak nie,dis nie goed vir die psige nie….soos ekke al baie gese het PRG is n baie goeie skool….as jy nie toegang tot Grey Boishaai,Gim of Affies het nie.
Lol, Derby Avenue Brakpan wen alweer vir Grey. Pragtig Oos-Rand!!!!Smallies se mening oor PRG, overrated, laat my sooooo lag.
@Smallies (Comment #6)
Maar Smallies dis jou persoonlike opinie nie gebaseer op werklike syfers. Wat betref die belangrikste, AKADEMIE, en tweede belangrikste, sport/rugby, overall, is Grey darem eksepsioneel pateties en dit gaan jaarliks agteruit. Is daar n IK , gwarr (jou woord) probleem, of kwalifiseer dit net nie as n skool nie, maar net n rugby skool met so vyf of ses goeie spanne? Nie dat dit ooit het, of ooit kon vergelyk met n Pronkskol soos PRG of Affies nie. Nee sies man, wie wil sy seun in so n plek hê? Lag my pap vir die Paarl GEMIDDELDE uitslae ook. Nie vir my nie dankie lmga.
@Deon (Comment #5)
Bra in die woorde van Drickus Du Plessis….jy weet nie wat ons weet nie….Daar is twee soorte skole in die land ,die wat soos Grey en Boishaai is en die wat graag so wil wees ….Paul Roos val in laasgenoemde groep…..whaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Jislike , te oordele aan die 2023 Matriekuitslae in Grey en Boyshai…..Skokkend, wat gaan aan in die Akademie daar die afgelope 100 jaar. Behalwe vir die feit dat ons hulle maklik wen op gemiddeld in sport, veral rugby. Djou, Strepies, Boishighpa, Rainier ens, moet ons vir julle n paar onderwysers , breins of beide stuur? Daar is net een skool in akademie en sport vir seuns. Res is wannabes looool. Syfers…..
Selborne school fees are about 45k for day scholars and 51k for boarders.
Also very high pupil numbers which means more money generated through fees.
@Skywalker (Comment #1)I think those schools have income streams that others don’t have ……
Amazing that 3 of the rugby powerhouse schools in the country (and the world in fact), Grey Bloem, Paarl BH and Paarl Gym, have some of the cheapest school fees in the country.
As was reported on here, Northwood’s brilliant Headmaster, has moved to Paarl Gym, so I was interested to note the difference…and its over R20 000! Northwood in Durban North, KZN, is R65 450, and Paarl Gym is only R42 100.