Lots of potential for private education in SA, 'but it's not easy' - Curro CEO

SA's biggest private school group is pleased with its first year of generating more cash from its operations than it forked out in capital expenditure. It's also upbeat after improving margins in a year where stress for South African consumers helped prompt a disappointing intake at the pre-primary and primary school level.

The group, established in 1998, said on Tuesday that net cash generated from operating activities climbed 9% to R875 million in its year to end-December, when pupil numbers picked up an average 2% to about 72 000.

Tuition fees rose about 12%, with the company passing on average fee increases of about inflation (6%) plus 2%, while it also benefited from a change in pupil mix.