JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Education Department says it will be engaging authorities from Grayston Preparatory School on its decision to close the school on Monday due to COVID-19 fears.

The department says no school has the authority to make such a decision without seeking guidance from them.

A teacher from the school is said to have had contact with a group of South Africans that had recently travelled to Italy.

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said they are already in contact with the school on the way forward.

"We know learners are not there so we need to understand what transpired there," he said.

Mabona cautioned principals and educators not to unilaterally decide to close schools and must work through the Education Department and the Department of Health.