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SAPS officers outside Addington Primary School in Durban.
Groups protesting against the enrolment of foreign nationals’ children at Addington Primary School are threatening to dump about 40 children displaced by the 2022 floods at this school in Durban’s Point area. This after the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department placed 66 learners who couldn’t get admission at other schools amid the protests since the start of the academic year.
However, March and March movement founder, Jacintha Ngobese-Zuma, accuses the department of being deaf to the flood victims’ plight who can’t afford transport to the other schools.
March and March founder, Jacintha Ngobese-Zuma, accuses the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department as viewing the pro South African movement as troublesome, and ignoring their complaints.
Ngobese-Zuma says that’s why they plan to force the 40 flood-affected children on Addington Primary School.
“You know actually, we’ve got a better idea. We’re just gonna dress the children in their uniform and bring them to school. We’re not gonna picket anymore because clearly our pickets are landing on deaf ears. So now, we’re not going to have children sitting there at home whereas there’s a school here. They’re gonna dress up, they’re gonna come to school. Then they’ll tell us how they’re gonna remove the children,” she says.
The Education Department placed South African learners who couldn’t be enrolled at the already overcrowded Addington Primary, at schools in Greyville and Overport in response to the protests.
However, Ngobese-Zuma says the department is ignoring the families’ plight about expensive transport.
“And the government is saying we’ve solved the problem, so we’ve done our part and that’s about it. Which is not a satisfactory answer. It’s actually ridiculous, come to think of it. Because if they think taking a child across town is such a great idea, why didn’t they do it to all the other parents whose children are not South African? As you’ve noticed when you’re here, parents are coming out of here with three or four children – one parent, and they have three or four children. And you telling a South African child you can’t make provision for them? Which is ridiculous,” she adds.
Protest continues at Addington Primary School – Jayed Paulse reports:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik6xQ0o80NM
The provincial government initially provided scholar transport for families displaced by the floods, but it was discontinued last year due to budget constraints.
Thirty-two-year-old unemployed mother of two, Noxolo Phakathi, are among the flood victims who were resettled in the Point. She says her only income is the child support grants she receives for her two young boys.
“They came here and then they sent them to Greyville. That’s why they stay at home. I can’t afford to send them there. The taxi is 900 per child. Ja, I can’t afford that. I’ll wait like others. Cause I can’t afford anything right now. I can’t even afford to feed myself, to feed them. So it’s difficult,” says Phakati.
Police officers have formed a line to shield parents who fetch their children at the end of the school day. However, the protestors pick out groups to harass. They bang loudly on empty water bottles right behind the children. Protestors shout in adults’ faces, and call them derogatory names. The message is clear: Go Home. Leave South Africa.
For one group of small children, holding each others’ hands, it was too much. They broke free and ran away as fast as they could.
