Top Newlands school Sacs has been accused of denying a 15-year-old pupil a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of joining the school water polo team's tour of Hungary because his mother has failed to pay his school fees.
The boy's mother, who wants to remain anonymous to protect her son, told the Cape Argus the boy had been selected for the eastern European trip in June on merit, only later to be humiliated in front of his peers.
"My son was distraught when he informed me that his teacher had handed out forms to his teammates, but told him, in front of all the other waterpolo players, that he could not have a form because his mother could not pay his school fees," the woman said.
She had complained to education MEC Cameron Dugmore.
In a letter to Ken Ball, the principal of the SA College School (Sacs), she said: "Please be informed that I have lodged a concern with... Dugmore regarding the exclusion of my son... due to unpaid school fees."
She said she was a single parent spending half her salary on rent and was "therefore experiencing difficulty".
But family and friends had committed themselves to raising funds so that her son could go abroad with his teammates on this lifetime opportunity.
Ball replied on Thursday: "I have noted your concerns regarding the overseas water polo tour with great interest and a sense of incredulous amazement - the tour has nothing whatsoever to do with Minister Dugmore - it is a privilege and not a right and the school is not extending an invitation to your son - the fundraising from his family and friends would be welcomed if paid into his school fee account instead.
"In fact, I have a serious problem when parents like yourself feel that the excellent education provided by schools such as Sacs should be at little or no cost. Maybe the MEC (Mr Dugmore) would be willing to pay your fees?!"
Ball declined to comment on Monday. His secretary, Eve Jenkins, said: "Mr Ball says this is an internal matter. "He is not prepared to discuss anything relating to parents or learners with the media."
