This is despite concerns of growing COVID-19 infections across the country, which have prompted the government to delay the reopening of all schools.

Some independent schools had already started with teaching and learning last week when the Department of Basic Education announced that schools would only reopen in mid-February.

Isasa’s executive director Lebogang Montjane said: “There is no regulation that precludes an independent school from opening at this point in time, so it’s really important that those schools are not breaking the law if it they have pupils on campus at the moment.”

Isasa said it was unreasonable to expect schools to rearrange plans following the government's decision to postpone the reopening of schools.

He said: “Some of our schools had to call in students this weekend to set them up for online learning, and I think it’s not reasonable to expect all schools to be ready to just shut down because you’ve made a media announcement, not a legal one.”

The Western Cape Department of Education is not forcing independent schools to close and said it was awaiting national government for direction.

However, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said no school would be allowed to operate over the next two weeks.

EWN