Durban – Tensions are escalating in Durban as protests continue outside Addington Primary School over the enrolment of children of foreign nationals. The March and March movement, along with other organisations including Operation Dudula and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, have been at the forefront of these demonstrations, which have now resulted in legal action against the movement's founder, Jacintha Ngobese-Zuma.
Ngobese-Zuma was arrested and charged with incitement to commit violence following the protests. Her attorney, Xolani Zuma, expressed concern over the state's decision to lay charges against his client, arguing that the focus should instead be on addressing the underlying issues raised by the protesters.
"It is quite concerning, though, that post-1994 there is still these gimmicks that are implemented at least by the state against innocent citizens," said Zuma. "Where we are standing here, there is about 27 buildings that are hijacked by God knows who, and the vast majority of those people are illegal immigrants. The question is what kind of state is this? But those are issues that we will be dealing with in court."
Ngobese-Zuma herself has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Following her arrest, she described the process, stating, "So the process is that they are going to take her fingerprints and everything. They are going to issue basically what we call a warning statement. The case is going to be then referred to the NPA for a decision. So the management of the NPA will decide if there’s a case. If there isn’t a case, they will then throw the docket away."
The protests at Addington Primary School began after the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department placed 66 learners, who were unable to secure admission elsewhere, at the school. This decision further inflamed existing tensions, with protesters arguing that South African children were being denied access to education in favour of foreign nationals.
Ngobese-Zuma has accused the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department of ignoring the plight of South African flood victims who cannot afford transport to schools further away. She claims the department views the pro South African movement as troublesome, and ignores their complaints.
In response to the Education Department's placement of South African learners at schools in Greyville and Overport, Ngobese-Zuma stated, "And the government is saying we’ve solved the problem, so we’ve done our part and that’s about it. Which is not a satisfactory answer. It’s actually ridiculous, come to think of it. Because if they think taking a child across town is such a great idea, why didn’t they do it to all the other parents whose children are not South African? As you’ve noticed when you’re here, parents are coming out of here with three or four children – one parent, and they have three or four children. And you telling a South African child you can’t make provision for them? Which is ridiculous."
Adding fuel to the fire, Ngobese-Zuma has accused the police of using heavy-handed tactics to disperse protesters, including the use of stun grenades and a water cannon last Friday.
In a defiant statement, Ngobese-Zuma declared, "If standing outside a school picketing and demanding for the rights of South Africans to be protected is instigating violence … if that is what they call it, then I call on the whole country to be very violent."
She continued, "If standing in front of a gate and saying at the moment 26 children are sitting at home because they don’t have money to go to school, if me standing up and saying that is wrong … is instigating violence, then I’m instigating violence. Yebo! Amandala! Awethu! Amandla! Awethu! Viva!"
In a dramatic escalation, the protesting groups have threatened to bring approximately 40 children displaced by the devastating 2022 floods to Addington Primary School. Ngobese-Zuma explained this decision, stating, "You know actually, we’ve got a better idea. 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. So now, we’re not going to have children sitting there at home whereas there’s a school here. They’re gonna dress up, they’re gonna come to school. Then they’ll tell us how they’re gonna remove the children."
The situation remains highly volatile, with no immediate resolution in sight. The legal proceedings against Ngobese-Zuma are expected to be closely watched, and the threat of further action by the protesters looms large. The KwaZulu-Natal Education Department has yet to respond to the latest developments.
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