Bloemfontein
Exploitation of familial ties between Lesotho and South Africa has raised concerns about the significant number of undocumented foreign students attending schools near the Lesotho border.
Litaba Mohapi, Chairperson of the Cross Border Crime Prevention Forum, provided an estimate of the number of undocumented foreign students in schools near the Lesotho border.
Due to close familial ties between Lesotho and South Africa, Mohapi emphasized the need for increased awareness of this issue. He noted that undocumented parents and their South African relatives are exploiting these connections to enrol children in border town schools.
According to Mohapi, a significant number of undocumented students in both primary and high schools are from Lesotho. “This ‘marriage of convenience’ between citizens of the two countries often results in situations where fathers neglect their families, leaving children stateless,” he said, adding that such children frequently become involved in illicit activities.
Statelessness inherently leads to exclusion and marginalization, rendering affected individuals citizens “nowhere” and foreign “everywhere.”
He also pointed out that undocumented Lesotho pupils face difficulties in enrolling and sitting for their Grade 12 examinations, ultimately hindering their ability to acquire a National Senior Certificate. “This leads to the students becoming both victims and perpetrators due to missed opportunities,” Mohapi stated.
A statement from Lawyers for Human Rights, a South African non-governmental organization, emphasized the severe implications of statelessness for children, noting that it can lock them out of opportunities and rob them of their dreams.
“Stateless children are denied basic human rights such as education, healthcare, and social assistance, forcing them to live on the fringes of society, invisible and forgotten,” the statement read.
Despite these challenges, South African law mandates that undocumented children cannot be denied access to public schools due to their lack of valid documentation. Children already enrolled in schools may also not be removed because of their undocumented status.
In 2019, the Department of Basic Education reported that 998 433 undocumented children were enrolled in public schools, including 117 465 foreign pupils.
However, this situation has sparked controversy. Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie is reported to have argued that undocumented foreign pupils should not be given priority over South African children in schools.
“All children of illegal foreigners shouldn’t be allowed in our schools in South Africa. Home Affairs should visit all schools before we do; this is nonsense,” McKenzie said. Mohapi remarked on the complex interplay of cross-border relations, undocumented status, and access to education. “The ongoing debate underscores the importance of addressing the root causes of interlinked challenges faced by both states with the participation of respective depart
