By: Lonwabo Mtyeku – Community Newsroom Pictures: Sourced
Johannesburg, 18 December 2025 — In a powerful show of partnership-driven impact, FNB and PEP have announced the return of their highly successful 99c school shoes initiative, offering much-needed relief to South African families preparing for the 2026 school year.
As part of the 2026 Back-to-School campaign, the initiative will make 120,000 school shoe vouchers available to qualifying FNB customers, enabling children to start the academic year with dignity, confidence, and the right footwear — without placing further strain on already stretched household budgets.
The campaign runs at PEP clothing stores nationwide from 4 January to 14 February 2026, or while stocks last.
Affordability That Makes a Real Difference
The initiative builds on the success of last year’s campaign, during which nearly 90,000 pairs of school shoes were sold for just 99c, helping families collectively save more than R12 million.
“This year marks another meaningful step in supporting our customers and their families,” says Pieter Woodhatch, CEO of FNB eBucks Rewards. “By bringing back this initiative with PEP, we’re helping households stretch their rands further and easing the financial pressure that often accompanies the start of a new school year. In challenging economic times, practical support matters — and this partnership delivers exactly that.”
How the Offer Works
The 99c school shoes offer is available to the first 120,000 qualifying customers, subject to the following criteria:
- Who qualifies: FNB Easy and Aspire Debit, Credit or Fusion account holders
- The offer:
- Buy Student Prince synthetic school shoes for 99c, or
- Receive R139 off any other school shoe
- How to qualify: Spend R300 or more (excluding shoes) in a single transaction
- Payment requirement: Pay with an eligible FNB card and scan a PEP +more digital rewards card at checkout
- Limit: One pair per customer
- Where: PEP clothing stores nationwide
- When: 4 January – 14 February 2026, while stocks last
More Than Shoes: Restoring Dignity and Confidence
For PEP, the initiative aligns with the retailer’s long-standing commitment to providing essential schoolwear at the lowest possible prices.
“At PEP, we understand that school uniforms are about more than compliance — they’re about confidence, dignity, and belonging,” says Beyers van der Merwe, Chief Marketing Officer at PEP. “Through our partnership with FNB, we’re able to deliver even greater value to families, ensuring that children walk into the classroom feeling proud, prepared, and ready to succeed.”
Supporting Families in Tough Economic Times
With the cost of living continuing to rise, entry-level households are bearing the greatest burden, particularly when it comes to back-to-school expenses such as uniforms, shoes, transport, and stationery.
“At FNB, we believe that small initiatives can have a big impact,” Woodhatch adds. “This campaign is about more than affordability — it’s about dignity, opportunity, and peace of mind. When children feel confident on their first day of school, it sets the tone for the year ahead.”
Partnerships That Deliver Meaningful Impact
By combining FNB’s financial wellness and rewards ecosystem with PEP’s scale and affordability, the initiative demonstrates how purposeful partnerships can deliver tangible benefits where they matter most.
Families are encouraged to visit their nearest PEP clothing store during the campaign period to take advantage of the offer while stocks last.
As South Africans prepare for the 2026 school year, this initiative ensures that thousands of children will quite literally start the year on the right foot.
