Parents buy uniforms in stages to cope with rising costs

Rising school uniform and stationery prices are forcing parents in Vhembe to buy items in stages, stretching already tight budgets to keep their children in class. Many rely on social grants, which means they are forced to cut back on basic household needs or send children to school without full uniforms.

The 2026 academic year got off to a shaky start in January when Limpopo Education MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya had to postpone the opening of some schools on 14 January due to dangerous flooding in parts of the province, including the Vhembe District. In the Vhembe East Education District, 378 of 550 schools were accessible and opened on 19 January, with teachers returning. The remaining 172 could not be reached because roads were severely damaged and impassable. In Vhembe West, 164 of 413 schools were inaccessible, delaying their opening.

But the problem of expensive school uniforms and stationery persists.

Parents in Elim and Bungeni villages say the cost of education in both private and public schools is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. In private schools, branded uniforms and long stationery lists push monthly costs far beyond what many families budget for. Public school parents may pay lower or no school fees but still struggle with prescribed uniforms and rising transport costs, especially when children attend schools far from home.

Some families say transport costs alone exceed their monthly food budget. Mkateko Chuma from Waterval sends her two children to different schools in Louis Trichardt and says the expenses are overwhelming.

“I bought shoes, tracksuits and six pairs of socks for my two children for R1,430. It was very expensive for me,” she said. “I still have to buy the rest of the uniforms because stationery is also costly. I spent R1,400 on that. Transport alone costs me R1,200 a month, plus school fees.”

Chuma says she prioritises the most essential items so her children can attend school, even without complete uniforms. “You want your child to go to school, but the money is not enough for everything at once,” she said.

Other parents across Vhembe report similar struggles, with many depending on social grants to meet basic school requirements. Some say schools prescribe specific branded uniforms, forcing parents to buy from a single supplier at higher prices.

Basani Baloyi from Bungeni said her child recently moved to Grade 10 at Mtsetweni High School. “The branded items are the problem,” she said. “A Drymac jacket costs R359, a baseball jacket is R450, and the blazer can only be bought from one supplier, which makes it even more expensive.”

Since 2021, the Competition Commission has received 490 complaints from parents and suppliers about schools entering exclusive agreements for uniforms and learning materials. It has resolved 465 of these, mostly through settlement agreements.

In a statement, the Commission said schools should encourage competition among suppliers to help parents access affordable, good-quality uniforms and learning materials. Parents have the right to shop around, it said, and school governing bodies must ensure schools comply with guidelines to prevent exclusive agreements that drive up costs.

The Commission urged schools to keep uniforms generic, allow multiple suppliers, limit branded items and rotate suppliers through competitive bidding, saying this would ease the financial burden on families.

Date:31 January 2026

By: Thembi Siaga

Thembi Siaga started as an intern during 2021. He assisted with video photography and editing. He also produced numerous small documentaries, focusing on the Vhembe region and its people. Currently he works as a freelance journalist, covering stories in the Elim area. Thembi studied at the Tshwane University of Technology, where he completed his diploma in Journalism in 2021.

Read: 708