Gauteng Education Department is stepping up its oversight of independent schools [SOUND]

# Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile says independent schools are independent in ownership and management, but they still operate under government regulation. The province currently has one-thousand-and-83 operational registered independent schools. The department recorded 458 disciplinary and bullying complaints, 422 cases of withheld transfer certificates or report cards over unpaid fees, and 518 suspensions or expulsions tied to non-payment of fees at independent schools between 2024 and August 2026. Maile says the growth, academic performance, funding, registration and accountability of independent schools are important: