South Africa’s intensifying crackdown on illegal immigration is leaving a troubling human cost in its wake – undocumented children stranded in Gauteng schools after their parents fled the country to escape deportation.
The alarming reality was revealed by Gauteng MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Lebogang Maile during the department’s budget vote in the provincial legislature yesterday, even as the national government warned it was preparing for potential unrest on the scale of the July 2021 riots ahead of a threatened June 30 shutdown.
Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia disclosed that R600-million, typically allocated for police stations and community policing, would be redirected to secure the country against the threatened shutdown by anti-illegal immigration movement March and March, which has warned it will bring South Africa to a standstill if undocumented foreign nationals have not left by its deadline.
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga said the army would be ready to support police if needed.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the province supports the right to peaceful protest but warns that any violence or criminality linked to the planned 30 June 2026 shutdown over illegal immigration will be met with firm action.
Lesufi said Gauteng, which is home to many foreign nationals, is preparing for potential disruptions linked to the planned shutdown and has implemented measures to ensure public safety and stability.
He said that while the government acknowledges concerns over illegal immigration, protests must remain within the bounds of the law.
“We fully support the right to peaceful protest. It is a cornerstone of our democracy and it is also enshrined in our constitution,” Lesufi said.
He added that the government shares the concerns raised by protesters and welcomes the measures already announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the issue.
Lesufi said the provincial government is engaging with stakeholders and will convene a broad meeting next week to find long-term solutions to immigration-related concerns.
The July 2021 riots, triggered by the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma for contempt of court, left 350 people dead and caused widespread looting and arson across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng over nine days. It is the scenario the government says it is preparing against.
Amid the security build-up, Maile told the legislature that children whose parents had fled amid the immigration crackdown were now attending school without guardians.
“I have already asked for a list of all the undocumented children in our schools at the instruction of the courts that we must accept them,” Maile said. “We are examining their ages and which schools they attend, and we want to assess the financial implications of supporting their education.”
The Gauteng Department of Education carries a budget of R70.9-billion for 2026/27, up R2.9-billion from the previous year, as it contends with pressures from rapid in-migration, urbanisation and overcrowding. Maile noted that R2 million was being invested in 160 computers for libraries, and R5.1 million in reading programmes to strengthen literacy across the province.
Maile also flagged corruption in schools as an emerging concern, saying reports had surfaced during visits to schools and communities.
As part of strengthening the province’s cultural heritage, Maile has committed his department towards unveiling eight new heritage sites with a sports, arts and culture budget made up of R719.4 million from the Provincial Equitable Share and R336.3m in Conditional Grants.
Maile further elaborated that libraries continue to play a strategic role in building a reading culture and bridging the digital divide. The department allocates R297.6m towards Library and Archival Services, including R194.8m transferred to municipalities to sustain and modernise community library services.
“We are investing R2m towards 160 computers for libraries and R5.1m towards reading programmes aimed at strengthening literacy across Gauteng communities,” he added.
When it comes to infrastructure backlogs and other challenges facing the education system, Maile indicated that challenges arise from rapid in-migration, urbanisation, overcrowding, infrastructure backlogs, and growing learner demand, particularly in township, informal settlement, and inner-city schools.
“These pressures require us to think differently about education delivery, infrastructure planning, and long-term sustainability. To respond to these challenges, we are increasing the department’s budget from R68bn in 2025/26 to R70.9bn in 2026/27, representing an increase of R2.9bn, or 4.3%. This increase allows us to strengthen key interventions while maintaining our focus on quality, access, and equity.”
Siyabonga Sithole
iol.co.za
