WATCH | Addington Primary enrollment dispute sparks community outrage

Emotions ran high on Wednesday morning outside Durban’s Addington Primary in KwaZulu-Natal when parents demanding their children be accepted at the school exchanged heated words with department of education officials.

“The department is selling us out. If we have to die so be it,” one parent shouted.

A councillor who tried to intervene was heckled and threatened

According to parents who spoke to Sowetan, the school, located near the uShaka Marine theme park, had barred pupils from being enrolled, claiming it was full.

They said they were referred to other schools despite applying early.

The school prefers children of foreigners as opposed to South Africans, they claimed.

“We are here because of a government that doesn’t listen, said parent Sifiso Xulu.

“Our children were told to apply elsewhere because the school was full. It can’t be business as usual when 80% of the school population is children of foreign nationals. No other country will accept that.”

Department officials entered the school to speak to staff.

Police nyalas stood guard while a heavy police contingent manned entry to the school. Parents were joined by members and leaders of the MK Party and the March and March and Dudula movements.

Jacinta Ngobese, leader of March and March, said the schooling system was victimising South African children.

“We want South African children to be prioritised in their own country,” she said.

Sowetan