There was widespread confusion over the implementation of the one-metre social distancing requirement in the classroom, as all primary school pupils returned to class on a full-time basis on Monday.

Gauteng principals said this was triggered by a provincial education department official informing them during a virtual meeting on July 22 not to “strictly enforce” the one-metre rule.

The official indicated that 507 township schools in the province would not be able to return to the traditional daily timetable if the one-metre requirement was followed...