South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996)Chapter 5 : Independent Schools45A. Admission age to independent school |
| 1) |
| a) | The admission age of a learner to an independent school to – |
| i) | grade R is age four turning five by 30 June in the year of admission; |
| ii) | grade 1 is age five turning six by 30 June in the year of admission. |
| b) | An independent school may admit a learner who – |
| i) | is under the age contemplated in paragraph (a) if good cause is shown; and |
| ii) | complies with the criteria contemplated in paragraph (e). |
| c) | The Minister may, by regulation, prescribe – |
| i) | criteria for the admission to an independent school at an age lower than the admission age of an underage learner who complies with the criteria; and |
| ii) | age requirements for different grades at an independent school. |
| d) | For the purpose of paragraph (b)(i), good cause shown means that – |
| i) | it can be shown that exceptional circumstances exist which necessitate the admission of an underage learner because admission would be in his or her best interest; and |
| ii) | the refusal to admit that learner would be severely detrimental to his or her development. |