NEC member in the Secretary General’s office of Operation Dudula Ayanda Ndlovu photo supplied
Political Party Operation Dudula is adamant that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) prioritises children of foreigners over South African learners in terms of admission to public schools.
On Monday Operation Dudula, under the leadership of its president Zandile Zee Dabula, confronted GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona regarding this matter at one of the schools in Soweto.
Dabula indicated that she has proof of learners who have been denied admission to schools that are right next to their homes, yet children of foreigners have been admitted to the said schools.
Mabona pointed out that the GDE is presently bound by a court order which states that children of foreigners must be admitted to schools even when their parents are not documented.
“As the GDE we don’t look at whether the parents of a child are documented or not; we look at the educational needs of the child,” said Mabona during a discussion with Dabula.
When Dabula asked as to why the GDE wasn’t fighting back in the interests of South African learners against the said court order, Mabona said that was not the duty of his department but that of the Department of Home Affairs.
Mabona insisted that every child living within 30 km of the radius of any government school has the right to be admitted to such a school, but again Dabula pointed out that in reality it is the children of undocumented foreigners who live in squatter camps that are in the 30 km radius of the school who are given priority while South African learners living within the selfsame radius are forced to go to schools that are situated far away from their homes.
In a statement submitted to Tshwane Talks on Monday regarding the school admissions matter, NEC member in the Secretary General’s office of Operation Dudula Ayanda Ndlovu said the following:
“It has been brought to our attention that despite parents submitting applications on time, placement at a preferred school is not guaranteed and this has resulted in cases whereby five-year-old children are compelled to board transport as early as 5 am to attend schools located more than 10 km from their homes; and only returning to their homes at 6pm.”
According to Ndlovu,”such circumstances are neither sustainable nor in the best interest of the child.”
She said every South African child has the right to access education at the nearest available public school and this right must be safeguarded to ensure that South African learners receive quality education within a safe and reasonable distance from their homes.
Ndlovu said as Operation Dudula they were concerned by reports that some foreign nationals submitted addresses that are not legitimate during the admissions process.
“This practice undermines both the credibility of the application system and the principles of fairness and we demand that our laws and regulations, including the South African Immigration Act, be respected and enforced,” said Ndlovu.
She emphasised that the protection of South African children’s rights to education are Operation Dudula’s highest priority.