A Grade 12 learner at Domus Academy in Gauteng was barred from sitting for his matric exams after it was revealed that neither he nor the school were registered with the necessary authorities. His mother, Smith, contacted Umalusi and discovered that the school was not registered. She also mentioned that her son was initially supposed to be registered with Alpha but was de-registered due to unpaid fees by the academy.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) confirmed that Domus Academy had been operating illegally and had been served a closure notice on December 6. GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona stated that the school had 30 days to shut down, following a thorough investigation. Despite this, the academy has not yet obtained proper accreditation, and the GDE has advised the owners to apply for registration.
To prevent future issues, the GDE introduced the 4A Plan, a strategy to stop enrolments at unregistered schools. Mabona explained that these illegal institutions make it difficult for the department to track students’ education. In response to the closure, the GDE is working to place affected learners in nearby public schools, though delays have occurred due to a shortage of available spaces. The department is committed to ensuring all affected students are placed in proper schools.
