Rising cost of school uniform prices add to parents’ stress

While the school year begins with a mixture of excitement and nervousness for millions of pupils across South Africa, parents harbour an overwhelming sense of stress.

The stress of costly uniform purchases seems to have parents overwhelmed as many scramble to school clothing outfitters to buy uniforms.

Parent Amanda Manuka, 32, says: “A school uniform is very expensive. It would be so much better if school uniforms are all one price and the same quality for everybody.”

With some parents complaining about the steep price of school uniforms, Wandile Tshandu, a parent of a 2018 grade 1 pupil, says buying quality schoolwear is costly. “But I want to give my child the best.”

After complaints from parents on the rise of school uniform costs, the Competition Commission has started a probe of the issue and has been in contact with school uniform manufacturers and distributors on the matter.

School uniform supplier Faizel Hajat says school uniform sales have dropped tremendously this year and that the 2018 trade season is much slower than last year.

But material that is locally produced will be more expensive than imported material, Hajat says.

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