Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has called on those blaming children of foreign nationals for overcrowding in South African schools to substantiate their claims with evidence, arguing that such narratives are misleading and unsupported by data.

Makaneta criticised the growing tendency to attribute pressure on the education system to foreign learners, saying the focus should instead be on structural issues affecting schooling across the country.

“The growing tendency to blame children of foreign nationals for overcrowding in South African schools is not only misguided but also unsupported by evidence. As South Africans, we must confront the real causes of the challenges facing our education system instead of directing frustration towards vulnerable children.”

He pointed to official statistics indicating that foreign nationals make up a very small proportion of the learner population.

“Data indicates that 98.2% of learners in South African schools are South African citizens, while only 1.8% are foreign nationals. It is therefore difficult to understand how less than 2% of the learner population can be blamed for the shortage of school spaces experienced in many communities. The mathematics simply does not support such a conclusion.”

According to Makaneta, overcrowding in schools is driven by deeper systemic challenges rather than the presence of foreign learners.

“The truth is that overcrowding in schools is the result of inadequate infrastructure and rapid population growth, along with poor long-term planning. These challenges have existed for many years and cannot be attributed to a very small number of foreign learners.”

He also emphasised the rights of children, regardless of nationality, to access education and protection under the law.

“Children do not choose where they are born, nor should they be punished for circumstances beyond their control. Every child deserves access to basic education, dignity, and protection. South Africa’s Constitution requires that we treat all children fairly and place their best interests at the centre of our decisions.”

Makaneta urged government to prioritise expanding educational infrastructure rather than shifting blame onto foreign nationals.

“Instead of blaming foreign children, government should focus on building more schools to ensure that every child has access to education. South Africa’s education crisis will not be solved by excluding foreign nationals.”