“It’s About Connections”: St Stithians College Fees Spark Divided Opinions Among South Africans

• St Stithians College in Sandton, Johannesburg, has come under the spotlight after its school fees were made public
• The elite private school is known for its high academic standards, but the price tag left many South Africans talking
• South Africans were divided online, with some saying the fees are worth it and others questioning whether the school matters at all

St Stithians College, one of Johannesburg's most prestigious private schools, has sparked a heated conversation after the cost of attending the Sandton institution was revealed publicly.

The school, known for its strong academic reputation and exclusive facilities, has been in the news recently. A Facebook post shared by The South African on 17 August 2026 prompted hundreds of South Africans to weigh in on whether elite schooling is worth the price.

What It Costs to Study at St Stithians

The South African published a detailed breakdown of the school's fees, revealing just how expensive a place at the college can be. Beyond the base tuition, parents also face additional costs on top of the advertised fees, making the total financial commitment considerably higher. For many families, the figures were eye-watering. For others, they were simply the price of giving a child the best possible start.

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See the original Facebook post that sparked the debate here.

Mzansi divided over the private school fees reveal

The post drew a wide range of responses, reflecting deep divisions in how South Africans view private education.

@Tashi Natasha Sivpersad summed up the reaction of many with sharp humour:

"Not much. Just an arm and a leg."

Not everyone was troubled by the numbers. @James C M Kaplan put things in perspective:

"That's peanuts compared to Hilton."

@Martha Phiri kept it simple:

"Very expensive and good school."

@Zanele Mzala Nxumalo agreed:

"Yes, it's expensive, but it's a good school; believe in me."

Others pushed back against the idea that an elite school guarantees success.

@Sinton Damons echoed that view:

"When they go to university and attend classes with students who went to township school, the ones who perform better than the elite school students show that it's not about the school, but the individual effort and hard work that matters."

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@Konkreed Floors Walls

"It’s about links and connections and traditions in those circles. Not about performing better than kids from public schools."

3 Briefly News school-related articles

• A local woman sparked a heated debate online after slamming elite private schools for charging six-figure fees primarily for "networking" while underdelivering on core academic value.
• A selfless South African man earned widespread praise online after a video surfaced showing him acting as a human bridge to carry schoolchildren across a flooded village stream.
• A brave South African woman inspired social media after sharing her decision to drop out of university and return to high school to upgrade her matric results.

Source: Briefly News