Cape Town – Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has dismissed claims that foreign pupils are being prioritised over South African learners in public schools, saying the narrative is misleading and not supported by facts.
Gwarube was responding to growing public frustration and protests around school placements, particularly in overcrowded urban areas. She said foreign learners make up a very small portion of the country’s school population and cannot be blamed for placement challenges faced by parents.
“You’ve got 13.7 million learners in the system and almost half a million teachers. Foreign learners make up about 1.8% of that number,” Gwarube said, adding that suggestions that South African children are being pushed out of schools are “simply not true”.
As reported by the Department of Basic Education, enrollment data shows that the overwhelming majority of learners in public schools are South African citizens, with foreign pupils accounting for less than two percent nationally. The department said claims of preferential treatment were “statistically incorrect and irresponsible”.
WATCH | Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says the claim that South African learners are being denied spaces by foreign learners is not true, noting that parents are frustrated because they cannot enrol their children in the schools they want. pic.twitter.com/QoNWOZyEph
— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 4, 2026
Gwarube acknowledged the anger and anxiety felt by parents who struggle to secure school placements for their children, but warned against directing that frustration at foreign learners. “We understand the desperation of parents who cannot find space in the schools they prefer, but blaming foreign learners for systemic challenges is inaccurate,” she said.
The minister also pointed to South Africa’s constitutional obligations, noting that every child living in the country has the right to basic education. “The Constitution is clear all children of school-going age must be allowed access to education, regardless of their background or documentation,” Gwarube said.
Meanwhile, the department said efforts should be focused on addressing overcrowding, improving infrastructure and resolving administrative delays, rather than fuelling divisions based on nationality.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
