Protest at Addington Primary school's gates condemned but March and March vows fight will continue

Despite the KwaZulu-Natal education department's assurances that all pupils in the province admitted to schools in the province, tensions around enrolments at Addington Primary school in Durban have not subsided.

The issue comes after organisation March and March claimed that foreign nationals children had been given preference at the school. This was denied by the department which provided enrolment figures showing that 63% of learners at the school were South African.

However protest action at the school continued on Thursday. The Azania Movement has condemned school-gate protests by groups including March and March and Operation Dudula and warned against what it describes as intimidation targeting children.

In a newsletter , the Azania Movement said: “Back-to-school season should be about learning, safety, and hope — not intimidation at school gates” alleging that organised protests were “aimed at blocking children from attending school because of their parents’ nationality.”

The organisation stressed that “it is inhumane to fight a child” emphasising that education “cannot be controlled by crowds, threats, or fear.”

The Azania Movement further claimed that such actions “often target black foreign nationals and their children,” arguing that this “is not patriotism,  it is scapegoating the vulnerable instead of confronting the real issues.” It concluded: “A child in uniform is not your enemy. A classroom is not a border post. Hands off children. Let them learn.”

Operation Dudula issued a response rejecting the allegations and distancing itself from any actions involving children.

“Operation Dudula does not target children, of any nationality, race, or background. We have never called for harm, intimidation, or discrimination against minors. Claims suggesting otherwise are false and reckless,” the organisation said.

It added that its advocacy is focused on policy and governance rather than race or nationality. “Our position is consistent and public: we advocate for lawful immigration, accountable governance, and fair access to services for South Africans, without racial or xenophobic hatred.” Addressing broader social tensions, Operation Dudula said: “South Africa’s diversity is a fact of history; policy failures are the issue, not children and not race.”

The standoff comes after remarks made by AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini Zulu on the issue of foreign nationals.

“The issue of foreign nationals is not a new thing. I want to promise you one thing: this land is not going anywhere, and no one will touch this land. This is the land of the Zulu. I promise you there will be no war. We will talk to those who are illegal to go back home; everyone has a home,” the king said.

Speaking to the media outside Addington Primary School on Thursday, March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese welcomed the king’s comments and criticised the government’s approach.

“We are pleased to see that the king sees the importance of solving this issue,” Ngobese said.

“During apartheid, our government did not speak about constitution, they did what needed to be done. The community is tired of foreign nationals. It does not help that they keep telling us about the Constitution. They should go and change that Constitution so that it serves what the people want.”

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