By Johnathan Paoli
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has issued a stern warning to Operation Dudula, saying that no form of intimidation, disruption, or violence will be tolerated on school premises.
This follows Operation Dudula’s ongoing campaign to block migrant children from enrolling in public schools.
The group recently announced that it wants to ensure “no foreign children” are admitted to public schools from January 2026.
On Monday, the group staged a campaign at Soweto schools and demanded that public schools prioritise South African learners over foreign nationals.
Department spokesperson Steve Mabona stressed that admissions are strictly governed by the Gauteng School Admissions Regulations, which prioritise factors such as a learner’s proximity to a school, siblings already enrolled, and feeder zones.
Citizenship or immigration status, he added, does not determine admission.
“The law is very clear: schools are not immigration centres. Their responsibility is to educate children, and constitutionally, all children of school-going age must be in school,” Mabona said.
Mabona added that the department will not compromise its constitutional duty to provide access to education.
He pointed out that many South Africans are themselves undocumented and that the department works closely with the Department of Home Affairs to guide parents on documentation.
“We have a constitutional obligation to make sure that we teach all children. Now it is even more critical because Grade R is compulsory, and the law dictates that those children must be taught. Education is not conditional on nationality or paperwork,” Mabona said.
The department’s stance follows Operation Dudula’s delivery of “warning letters” to 11 schools in Soweto, including Lofentse High School for Girls in Orlando East and Noordgesig Primary School.
The organisation, now positioning itself as a political party, warned that it would take further action by January if schools do not comply with its demands.
The department has made it clear that any attempt by Operation Dudula or any group to disrupt learning will be met with swift intervention from law enforcement agencies.
“We cannot enter into their plan. But as a department, we have a responsibility to work very closely with the law enforcement agencies to make sure that there is law and order in our schools. Anything done within the confines of the law is not a problem. But if you go into our schools and do anything unlawful, then the law enforcement agencies must assist us,” Mabona said.
The department stressed that legislation does not permit any disruption of schools or interference with teaching and learning.
Schools, it said, must remain safe and accessible environments for all learners, parents, and employees.
Operation Dudula has framed its school campaign as part of a broader political mobilisation ahead of next year’s local government elections.
Its leader, Zandile Dabula, claimed that undocumented South Africans were also being neglected by state systems and that the organisation was exposing “wrongs” in school admissions.
But critics argue the campaign is a dangerous continuation of the group’s anti-migrant activism, which previously targeted public health facilities.
Just days earlier, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng laid a criminal complaint against Operation Dudula, accusing it of inciting violence after a one-year-old baby allegedly died when its mother was denied healthcare.
The department reiterated that it is committed to ensuring schools remain centres of safety, learning, and inclusivity.
Mabona pointed to its broader efforts in strengthening education infrastructure and addressing challenges such as overcrowding, mobile classrooms, and waiting lists in special needs schools.
He said the department’s immediate priority, however, is protecting learners and educators from intimidation campaigns.
“Schools must never become battlegrounds for political agendas. We will protect the right of every child to learn in a safe, peaceful environment,” he said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
[SRC] https://insideeducation.co.za/gde-slams-operation-dudulas-anti-migrant-school-drive/
