Christel House South Africa extends its admissions footprint to Gugulethu and Nyanga, opening 2027 admissions
Christel House South Africa extends its admissions footprint to Gugulethu and Nyanga, opening 2027 admissions
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As Christel House South Africa celebrates its 25th anniversary, the school is marking the milestone by extending its learner-intake footprint to include parts of Gugulethu and Nyanga, adding these communities to its existing transport service route.
Christel House SA has opened applications for Grade RR and Grade 8 for the 2027 academic year, extending access for families through its no-fee scholarship programme. Admissions opened on 1 March 2026, offering eligible learners fully funded education and long-term, holistic support that includes all the most critical enablers of education, including daily transport to and from school, healthy meals, healthcare, psychosocial support, uniforms and guidance as they prepare for the world of work.
For the 2027 intake, the school has expanded its catchment areas in Gugulethu to include New Rest and Kanana-NY111, and in Nyanga to include KTC. This expansion reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to deepening its impact within the communities it serves, ensuring that more children growing up in cycles of poverty and limited access to quality education are able to access the Christel House model of holistic learning and support, which starts from Grade RR and extends through to five years after Grade 12, offering 19 years of consistent support and mentorship.
This development runs in parallel with the construction of the school’s new high school, which has already increased the student body to 975 learners, including 120 new Grade 8 and Grade 9 students. Once fully completed, the expansion will double the high school’s capacity to 300 learners by 2030, enabling Christel House South Africa to support even more young people on their journey to academic success and long-term opportunity.
The school’s Social Services team has already actively engaged in advocacy within the Gugulethu community, working alongside families, community stakeholders and local partners to promote the benefit of attending Christel House SA and long-term opportunities for at risk youth.
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After 25 years, the impact is clear: 95% of alumni are either employed, pursuing further studies, or doing both, demonstrating how sustained investment in education can break the cycle of poverty and unlock opportunity for the next generation.
Eugenia Dlodlo-Sibanda, Dean of Student Development at Christel House South Africa says,
“By expanding our feeder communities, we’re welcoming more learners into a unique school community that not only supports them for the long term, but provides the critical enablers of education that allow children to move from exclusion to inclusion. We’ve chosen these areas carefully so our learners can travel safely on our bus route and feel connected to a school that is truly invested in their future.”
Companies and individuals who would like to sponsor one or more learners through the Christel House scholarship programme are warmly invited to contact the school’s Admissions Office or Development Team to arrange a visit and learn more about how they can partner with Christel House South Africa to change lives.
Adri Marais, CEO of Christel House South Africa, concludes,
“It’s thanks to the generosity of donors and partners that Christel House South Africa is able to sustain and expand our work. Every scholarship represents a life-changing opportunity for a child to access quality education, care, and long-term support. It’s only through scholarships and philanthropic partnerships that we’re able to grow our reach and serve more learners from communities facing systemic barriers to opportunity.”
More information on how to apply:
Families are encouraged to carefully review the admissions criteria before applying.
For full admissions details and to apply, visit: https://sa.christelhouse.org/student-admissions/
Application Deadlines:
- Grade RR: 1 March 2026 – 30 March 2026
- Grade 8: 1 March 2026 – 15 May 2026
Admissions Enquiries:
Email: admissions@sa.christelhouse.org
WhatsApp: 067 035 6608
Tel: 021 704 9429
Scholarship and Partnership Enquiries
Lara Black - Development and Partnerships Director
Tel: 021-704-9407
Cell: 083-326-1168
Email: lblack@sa.christelhouse.org
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Christel House South Africa is a non-profit school with a single mission: A world where poverty does not limit potential. It offers no-fee scholarships to students from 29 of Cape Town’s severely under-served communities and supports them for 19 years (Grade RR to Grade 12 and five years post-matric) through character-based and career-focused education.
The school’s beneficiaries include 975+ students from grades RR to 12, 250+ post-matric students, and more than 3000 parents and other members of the communities it serves.
The main criterion for admission to Christel House is not evidence of talent but of poverty, a measure of which is a maximum average income of between R1,800-R3000 per household member per month.
Key aspects of Christel House’s model include poverty mitigation services such as daily transport to school and back, professional health care, nutritious meals, psycho-social counselling, family assistance, and college and career planning and support.
Throughout their schooling and beyond, learners receive consistent support through various projects and programmes, including career guidance, vocational preparation, character development, and post-matric alumni support. This extends to tertiary education, job placements, graduate mentoring, career workshops, and financial support, forming a network of impact that extends to families and communities.
For more information visit our website https://sa.christelhouse.org/ and follow us on social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Christel House SA admissions qualifying criteria:
Financial Need
We prioritise learners from families facing extreme economic hardship and living on R1 800 – R3 000 per month. Admissions decisions are based on a holistic assessment of need, which includes income context alongside social, household, and educational factors. Final admissions decisions are always made holistically and in line with our mission to serve families with genuine economic need.
To calculate: divide your household’s total monthly income (salaries, social grants, etc.) by the number of people living in the household.
Location
The child must permanently reside in one of the following catchment areas:
Hanover Park • Manenberg, Tambo Village • Jim se Bos, Smallville, Springfield, Olieboom Farm, Sonnestraal Farm, Schaapkraal, Jabula, Lekkerwater • Phumlani • Lotus River • Strandfontein • Pelican Park • Lansdowne • Parkwood • Langa • Athlone: Kewtown, Bridgetown, Silvertown • Belgravia, Parktown, Pook Se Bos, Statishights, Bokmakierie • Ottery, Freedom Park • Mitchells Plain: Eastridge, Beacon Valley & Lentegeur only • Kiki Informal Settlement • Ottery Farms • New Rest • Kanana/Ny 111 Road • KTC
Note: High school applicants who live close and around the above-listed areas may be considered. Considerations will be made based on space availability on our buses and the family’s ability to access public transport and affordability.
Results Requirement (Grades 2-12 only)
While we do not enrol students based solely on their academic talent, we do prefer children who have achieved a code 6 or 7 in Math, English, and Afrikaans/isiXhosa. Please share the child’s most recent report.
