Enye: Faith Chasisiwe v Crawford International Sandton Preparatory School

The applicant, the biological mother of two minor children aged 7 and 9, brought an opposed urgent application after her children were removed from Crawford International Sandton Preparatory School on 30 July 2025 due to non-payment of school fees. The children had been enrolled at the school since kindergarten. The applicant sought condonation for non-compliance with the Uniform Rules of Court and an order compelling the school to readmit the children immediately so that they could complete the 2025 academic year. The second respondent was withdrawn after it emerged she had been incorrectly cited. The application was launched nearly a month after the children were removed from school.

The application was struck from the roll for lack of urgency. Each party was ordered to pay their own costs.

The judgment reaffirms that matters involving minor children and constitutional rights under section 28(2) of the Constitution do not automatically qualify as urgent. It underscores the strict application of Rule 6(12) and the principle that urgency must not be self-created, even in education-related disputes involving children.