Learning lessons about migration

[00:00:00]Now, anti-illegal immigrant sentiment continues to grow in the country. Among these fears is that children of foreign nationals are taking up space in public schools.

[00:00:09]But, some experts say this is misguided and government must be taken to task over the lack of spaces. We're discussing this with education activist Hendrick Makhaneta, who's in studio with us this morning. A very good morning to you, Mr. Makhaneta. And thank you very much for making the time to come through to studio. The question really is are foreign national children really the reason that some South African children can't find space in public schools?

[00:00:36]>> Well, quite honestly, foreign nationals are not the reason why South African children cannot find space in our schools.

[00:00:48]I think that we we acknowledge the challenges that are faced by you know, South Africans generally.

[00:00:57]You know, the the challenges are are huge. And then if you look at unemployment, it's there.

[00:01:02]Poverty is rife in the country.

[00:01:05]And of course, you know, on the ground is very easy to blame you know, a foreign national.

[00:01:11]We've seen it happening in some of the schools where people marched and said we want to take out foreign nationals from classes. But, the reality is that government is failing to provide the necessary resources in the form of many schools. We see this every year.

[00:01:30]>> In fact, I'm going to ask you exactly on that, Mr. Makhaneta, because this anxiety seems to surface mostly in the economically marginalized communities, and not in the traditionally affluent communities.

[00:01:44]>> Definitely.

[00:01:44]>> So, is it because the poorer communities are now being asked to absorb the failures of of the of the state? And and then those that are, you know, are shock absorbed by private schools, better resourced public schools in the affluent areas don't have to deal with it.

[00:02:01]>> Definitely. You know, if you look at schools in affluent areas, you you do find foreign nationals there, and there are no problems. The problems exist primarily in our townships, as well as you know, in rural communities. And of course, if you also look at the conditions of some of the schools, you know, they are they they require some rehabilitation, you know, they need to be maintained.