The Post News A group protesting the enrolment of foreign nationals‘ children at Addington Primary School in Durban’s Point area is threatening to dump around 40 children displaced by the 2022 floods at the school. The KwaZulu-Natal Education Department had placed 66 learners who couldn’t get admission at other schools due to the protests.
March and March movement founder, Jacintha Ngobese-Zuma, accuses the department of ignoring the flood victims’ plight, saying they can’t afford transport to other schools. “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,” she says.
The Education Department placed South African learners at schools in Greyville and Overport, but Ngobese-Zuma says this ignores the families’ concerns about expensive transport. “The government is saying we’ve solved the problem, but that’s not a satisfactory answer. It’s ridiculous,” she adds.
Affected Families Addington Primary School
Noxolo Phakathi, a 32-year-old unemployed mother of two, is among the flood victims resettled in the Point. She relies on child support grants and can’t afford transport to Greyville. “I can’t afford to send them there. The taxi is R900 per child. I’ll wait like others,” she says.
Protest Tensions
Police officers formed a line to shield parents fetching their children, but protesters harassed groups, banging on water bottles and shouting derogatory names. The message was clear: “Go Home. Leave South Africa”.
Government Response
The provincial government initially provided scholar transport, but it was discontinued last year due to budget constraints. The Education Department says it’s working to address the issue, but protesters demand more action.
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