Principals, teachers, and parents plan to picket in Cape Town on Thursday against the "premature reopening of schools" which they say is compromising the safety of pupils during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A group of high and primary school principals wrote a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet a week ago, appealing to the government to review its decision to reopen schools.

The letter - compiled by principals from Heathfield High, Steenberg High, Floreat High and Athlone High - said "the decision to reopen primary and high schools on 1 June was the wrong one.

"The national minister of basic education, in consultation with the National Coronavirus Command Council, announced that schools would open on 1 June 2020 for grades 7 and 12, to be followed by the gradual phasing in of more grades on 6 July 2020 and 3 August 2020.

"The WCED will always strive to protect every child in its care, similarly, every parent has the right to send his/her child to school to receive an education," said Casey.