Kaya 959 Point of View with Phemelo Motene

Dudula’s School Threats Slammed by Parliament: “This is Not a Banana Republic”

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Parliament has come out swinging against Operation Dudula after the group vowed to block undocumented children, mainly immigrants from attending school in 2026. MPs have warned that such actions would be illegal and a violation of children’s rights. Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Makhi Feni, raised a critical point: how will Dudula even distinguish between South African children without documents and foreign nationals? He reminded MPs that an estimated 6 million South Africans about 11% of the population lack proper documentation, often due to disasters like

fires or floods. “Are we going to have sniffer dogs at the gates to decide who belongs?” he asked sarcastically. Feni warned that disrupting schools and intimidating children would not be tolerated. "We are a constitutional democracy not a banana republic,” he said. Phemelo speaks to Makhi Feni and Operation Dudula President Zandile Dabula.
21 Aug 2025 4PM English South Africa Education · Careers

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