Rivonia Primary School

I have never had such a disappointing experience with a school administrator responsible for collecting new student applications. I would like to share my concerns point by point:

When we entered the office, instead of a welcoming greeting, we were questioned about why we were submitting the application on the last day. I did not understand the logic behind this question. The last day is the official deadline, and parents have every right to submit their application on or before that date. If the school states that selection is not based on a first-come, first-served basis, then submitting the application on the final day should not be an issue.

When we provided our South African ID (non-resident permit), we were told that it would not be accepted and that we needed to provide a permanent residence permit instead. The reason given was concerns about fraud at Home Affairs. However, identification documents can be verified directly with the Department of Home Affairs to confirm whether they are valid and officially issued. It is unfair to reject documents without proper verification.

My child also has a permanent residence permit, yet the administrator questioned whether it was legitimate. It is the school’s responsibility to verify the authenticity of documents through the proper channels if there are concerns. Questioning parents without conducting proper verification is inappropriate. Additionally, asking how a four-year-old could have a permanent residence permit reflects a lack of understanding of Home Affairs regulations. If there is uncertainty about the rules, the established verification process should be followed.

We were also told that we would not get a seat. I do not understand whether admission decisions are made by this individual or according to the official government-defined process. Such statements create doubt about whether seats are allocated fairly and transparently.

I sincerely hope that the relevant education authorities monitor such situations closely and occasionally gather feedback from parents regarding their experiences. Admissions should be handled professionally, fairly, and according to established procedures.

RIVONIA PRIMARY SCHOOL - a fantastic family orientated school with passionate teachers and auxiliary staff that go out of their way to ensure your child gets a great educational experience. The school helps foster confident forward thinking individuals who are compassionate and aware of their fellow humans struggles. Absolutely love this school who has gone above and beyond - in what has been an incredible difficult time world wide- to keep our children up to date with the curriculum.
After having my children in a private school paying exorbitant fees I can honestly say that my children are better off emotionally and educationally at RIVONIA. Thank you to a fantastic head, MRS D who guides her team from the top - what a true leader .