Schooling for 489 visa holders in SA for state schools is not totally free. May minimal amount na dapat bayaran same with local students.
I dont have school kids but the way it works here is the govt will group suburbs and they will advise which school(s) you can enroll. they call it "zoning". in other words, hindi ka pwede magenroll lang kahit sang school mo gusto unless dun ka nakatira sa zone na yun.
For those people who are asking if quality of education in public schools here is good. I think it depends on the person.same sa pinas, kung mahusay ang bata kahit public or private mo ilagay magiging achiever yan. Based on feedback from my friends, the schooling here is a bit different from pinas in such a way na hindi lang technical ung pinagaaralan pati ung socialisation at sports.