Protests outside Addington Primary School in Durban reignited on Wednesday as members of the March and March movement and Operation Dudula gathered at the gates, chanting slogans and holding placards. Police were deployed in numbers at the entrance as authorities moved to prevent tensions from escalating and to protect learners and staff.

The renewed protest follows earlier confrontation at the start of the school term, when activists accused the school of favouring learners born to foreign parents.

School Shares Enrolment Numbers

Addington Primary said it is full, with 1,548 learners. The school stated that 968 of those learners are South African citizens, which it put at nearly 63%.

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma disputed that picture, saying the issue is bigger than one school and speaks to overcrowded classrooms and the impact on learning conditions for South African children who cannot find placement.

Political Leaders Call for Calm

Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, chairperson of the ANC’s education and health subcommittee in KwaZulu-Natal, urged residents to keep schools focused on teaching and learning. He also said there were reports that some younger pupils may need counselling after what they witnessed during last week’s tensions.

Parents on the other side of the dispute also appealed for calm. Sikuzani Furaha, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said she believed children were safer with police present and said fighting should not happen in front of learners.

Education Department Steps in

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education said teaching and learning at the school continued without interruption after clashes between local and foreign national parents last week. It said officials met with Addington Primary’s management to address learner placement challenges and to assess governance and management processes for alignment with departmental policies.

District director Busi Mahlambi said the department was pleased the school was functional and that teaching and learning were under way. The department said it would keep working with the school and stakeholders to protect uninterrupted learning and the best interests of all learners.