KZN Education Department Denies Unfair Admission Claims at Addington Primary
Durban – The KwaZulu-Natal Education Department has strongly rejected allegations of unfair admission practices at Addington Primary School, insisting that no South African child has been turned away because of spaces taken by foreign nationals. This comes amid ongoing protests outside the school, where local parents and community groups have raised concerns over learner placements for the 2026 academic year.
The controversy erupted in mid-January, just days after schools reopened on 11 January 2026, highlighting broader challenges in the province’s education system. Protesters, including members from civic organisations and political parties, gathered outside the school for a second week, demanding priority for South African children. They claimed that more than 50 to 66 local learners were left without places, allegedly because the school favoured children of immigrant families.
Background to the Protests
Tensions flared up outside Addington Primary School in Durban’s Point area, where dozens of parents demonstrated on 14 January 2026. The standoff involved South African parents clashing with foreign nationals, with police stepping in to prevent violence. Demonstrators accused the school of having a high occupancy rate of foreign learners, with some alleging up to 90% of spots were taken by children from immigrant backgrounds.
One key issue raised was the lack of proper documentation for some learners. Protesters argued that undocumented foreign nationals were being admitted without checks, sidelining South African families. This led to a tense atmosphere, with security guards and law enforcement on site to manage the crowds. Community members expressed frustration, saying the school was in the wrong place if it could not serve local needs first.
The protests were led by groups such as March and March, Operation Dudula, and members of the uMkhonto WeSizwe party, also known as the MK Party. They presented a list of about 66 South African children they believed should be admitted immediately. Parents voiced deep concerns about their children’s right to education, with some calling for the principal to address preferential treatment towards foreign learners.
These events unfolded against a backdrop of wider education issues in KwaZulu-Natal, including delays in scholar transport and readiness problems before the school year started. Overcrowding at popular schools like Addington Primary has long been a challenge, as families seek placements in well-located institutions near urban centres.
Department’s Official Response
In response, the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department dismissed the claims as unfounded. Head of the department, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, explained that a thorough check of the protesters’ list showed most of the 66 children had already been placed in nearby schools. However, their parents had withdrawn them, preferring Addington Primary without having applied through the proper channels.
Ngcobo stated clearly: “The marchers demanded we must admit at Addington Primary School about 66 children that they had on a list. Now, when we scrutinized that list, we found that actually most of them had been admitted in other schools and in fact had attended the school when schools reopened but the parents took their children out of those schools which are not far from where Addington is. So, they want their children to be admitted and they had not applied.”
Department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi also condemned the violence during the demonstrations, noting it exposed children to harmful situations. He stressed that admissions are handled centrally by the department, not at the school level, and it was too late in the process for direct engagements with the principal.
To address the allegations, the department instructed the school’s principal to submit a detailed registration list. This move aimed to provide transparency on enrolments and debunk claims of dominance by foreign learners.
Learner Placement Statistics
Detailed figures from the department reveal that Addington Primary School has around 1,200 to 1,300 learners enrolled for 2026. The majority are South African, countering the protesters’ assertions. Out of the total, about 580 are foreign nationals with valid documentation, while there are 12 undocumented South African learners and only five undocumented foreign nationals.
A member of the provincial legislature highlighted that approximately 30% of the learners come from immigrant families, but this does not mean South Africans are being excluded. The school has reached full capacity, leading to the need for alternative placements in surrounding areas.
All affected learners have now been accommodated, either at Addington Primary or in neighbouring schools such as Clayton Primary, Collegevale Primary, Greyville Primary, and St Anthony’s Primary. This ensures no child is left without a place, aligning with the constitutional right to basic education for all.
Interventions and Resolutions
Swift action by the department included a meeting with Addington Primary’s management on 19 January 2026 to tackle the admission challenges. The focus was on ensuring smooth placements and preventing disruptions to teaching and learning as the academic year began.
The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal praised the department’s quick response, saying it restored stability and protected the education process. They noted that the intervention resolved the dispute effectively, allowing classes to continue without further issues.
Police remained on site during the protests to maintain order, and authorities explored long-term solutions like expanding school infrastructure to handle growing demand in urban areas.
Broader Implications for Education in KZN
This incident sheds light on deeper problems in KwaZulu-Natal’s education sector, where overcrowding and documentation issues often spark community tensions. It raises questions about fair access for all children, regardless of background, and the need for better planning in learner placements.
While the department maintains that no bias exists, the protests underscore the frustrations of parents navigating a complex system. Moving forward, stakeholders call for improved communication and earlier application processes to avoid such conflicts in future years.
As the 2026 school term progresses, Addington Primary continues to operate normally, with all learners settled in appropriate classes. The department encourages parents to use official channels for admissions to ensure every child gets a fair chance at education.
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