Note to Editors: Please note Sakhile Mngadi, MPL sound bites in English and isiZulu
Recent violent incidents regarding school admissions at Durban’s Addington Primary School are deeply concerning. Violence at schools is unacceptable and places children, teachers and whole communities at risk. Schools should be protected spaces dedicated to learning and child development.
Recent public debate around school admissions, particularly in the context of undocumented migration, has highlighted a serious and growing problem: the lack of clear, consistent and adequately resourced implementation of existing law and policy in KZN, forcing communities to see admissions as a zero-sum game. MEC Sipho Hlomuka recent statements do nothing to calm the violence and instead is scapegoating migrants for the failures of the KZN education department.
South Africa is a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law. There is no place for violence, or the incitement of violence. The legal framework on school admissions is binding education officials, who are required to apply it consistently and lawfully.
However, KZN’s public education system is under severe strain. Chronic shortages of classrooms, teachers and learning materials have placed schools under immense pressure. Schools are not funded on the basis of enrolling undocumented learners, creating a widening gap between legal obligations and the resources available to meet them.
This mismatch fuels frustration at school and community level, and if not addressed, creates conditions for instability and conflict. Educators and school management teams must not be left exposed to violence or intimidation because of unclear policy direction or inadequate support.
Public anger around undocumented migration cannot be resolved through confusion, mixed messaging or by shifting responsibility onto schools. The law must be applied consistently, and government must ensure that schools are properly supported to do so.
The DA will therefore table a motion in the KZN Legislature calling for urgent clarity on the implementation of school admissions policy. We will request a detailed report to the relevant portfolio committee outlining learner numbers, funding implications and practical measures to support schools while maintaining safety, legality and stability.
The rule of law is essential to protect children and teachers, and schooling communities. It is now essential that the MEC and the KZN education department adhere to the rule of law to prevent further unrest and violence.