The rising price tag of matric dances and how it spirals into a costly spectacle

WHAT was once a simple end‑of‑school celebration has become a pricey event, with pupils and parents budgeting from a few thousand rand to more than R30,000 for the night. From gowns and suits to beauty treatments, transport and photography, social‑media posts reveal a wide – and sometimes eye‑watering – range of expenditures.

Some schools are holding their dances as early as May, prompting families to start calculating costs before the “Jannuworry” blues have faded. On TikTok, one pupil’s detailed breakdown totalled about R28,140, including a dress of nearly R10,000, hair and make‑up at more than R2,000, accessories, transport and overnight accommodation.

Another viral post showed a total of R35,119, with a custom‑designed gown at R8,500, heels at about R1,700, and accommodation costing R11,000 for pre‑dance preparation and the after‑party.

A hairdresser noted that extensions can run to around R20,000, adding that some parents end up spending close to R100,000.

“Imagine what a wedding would cost for those kids, and then they wear an entirely new outfit to the after‑party,” she said.

At the other end of the scale, one learner reported a modest R3,540 spend, borrowing a dress, doing her own hair and make‑up, and forgoing fancy transport.

Other pupils have posted similar figures: a TikTok budget of R14,250 included a R4,000 dress, R700 on nails and toes, and a R1,000 photographer.

Last September, @NolwAzi_Tusini wrote, “Imagine having a 3k‑4k budget for a matric dance dress and it not being enough? Yoh. I hate Joburg.😭” @naledimashishi replied, “I remember my matric dance dress cost around R3k to buy… I can’t believe that amount won’t even get you a dress anymore.”

A further viral video showed a budget exceeding R44,000, driven largely by a R30,000 dress and accessories. These examples illustrate the broad range of spending choices many matric pupils (or their parents) make.

Outfits alone vary widely. Mid‑range gowns from local boutiques are typically priced between R1,500 and R4,000; premium or custom designs can exceed R6,000, while budget options start below R1,000.

IOL reports that a second‑hand boutique in an exclusive part of Johannesburg’s East Rand advertised gowns “on special” from R3,000.

Beauty and styling services also differ. Some salons advertise make‑up and hair packages for matric dances from roughly R550 each, though professional packages are often more expensive. Transport can be a major line item: specialist matric‑dance or vintage‑car hire firms list classic‑car packages from about R3,800 for a limited period, rising to R7,300 or more for longer slots; demand and car type affect the final price.

Formalwear for young men presents its own choices. Hiring a suit can cost from several hundred to a couple of thousand rand, while buying a quality suit for future use typically ranges from R1,200 to R3,000, according to social‑media discussions and market trends.

Beyond the headline totals, deeper concerns about affordability are emerging. Some parents on online forums say they have spent around R5,000 on clothing, hair, make‑up and nails in earlier years and note that not all pupils can afford even that. Others describe classmates opting out entirely because the total cost is simply beyond reach.