A dispute over school admissions spilled onto the pavement outside Addington Primary School in Point, Durban, on Wednesday, as dozens of parents gathered to protest against what they described as unfair access to places at the school.
Parents from immigrant families demonstrated outside the gates, calling for their children to be admitted. Several South African parents joined the protest, while a counter-demonstration was held by members of the anti-immigration March and March movement, who argued that South African learners should be prioritised.
Addington Primary is the only public primary school in the immediate neighbourhood. Education officials say it is already operating at full capacity, with a long waiting list for new pupils. The dispute has placed Durban school admissions under renewed scrutiny, particularly in communities with limited schooling options.
Immigrant parents at the protest said they believed their children were being unfairly excluded. Sandra Mafutha, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said she had received no response to her child’s application. She stressed that she was willing to pay school fees. “It’s not like our children are going to study for free. I am prepared to meet the requirements, as long as my children are admitted,” she said.
Officials from the KwaZulu-Natal education department addressed the crowd, explaining that overcrowding meant not every child could be placed at the school. Nhlanhla Nkosi from the department’s district office said placement decisions were constrained by available space.
Democratic Alliance member of the provincial legislature Sakhile Mngadi said the process for school admissions is managed by the education department, not individual schools. He said registrations were already closed and that it was too late for parents to approach the principal directly. Mngadi added that, according to the principal, about 30% of learners at the school were from immigrant families, though this could not be independently confirmed.
South African law prohibits discrimination against children on the basis of nationality. However, members of the March and March movement insisted that local children were being left without access. Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said she had a list of 80 South African parents whose children had reportedly been waiting since April 2025.
Another parent, Masabatha Rahlina, said her family had been on the waiting list for months. “I live close to the school, which is why I hope my child can be considered,” she said, highlighting the continuing tensions surrounding school admissions.
