Operation Dudula: Children of foreign nationals must be in private schools and must pay

Operation Dudula says its schools campaign is not aimed at depriving children of foreign nationals of education in South Africa, but argues that due to high demand and limited resources, immigrant children should be enrolled in private schools instead of public ones.

On Monday, IOL reported that the Gauteng Department of Education has promised to enlist the help of law enforcement agencies to prevent Operation Dudula from disrupting the province’s academic programme in the new school year.

This follows the movement’s visits to several Soweto schools, with allegations that undocumented foreign learners are being prioritised for placement.

Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula, who has faced widespread criticism for spearheading campaigns to block illegal foreigners from accessing healthcare, said the new school drive was about putting South Africans first.

“What we are suggesting to the department is that they must just make sure that all kids of foreign nationals need to go and be placed in private facilities, and they must pay. Public facilities need to be reserved for South Africans,” Dabula told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.

“If they are properly documented, with all the requirements – I am talking about study visas and all that – then yes, but they would be last on the queues, and not be prioritised. We are going to start with South African kids first, and when there is space, we can start looking at well-documented kids.”

She stressed that members of Operation Dudula were not at schools to disrupt teaching and learning.

The campaign kicked off with visits to schools, including Lofentse High School for Girls in Orlando East and Noordgesig Primary School, where “warning letters” were delivered stating that no South African child should be deprived of education in favour of foreign nationals.

The development comes just days after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng opened a criminal case against Operation Dudula, accusing the group of inciting violence and unlawfully targeting foreign nationals at healthcare facilities.

Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that investigations are underway.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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