Operation Dulula Protest Against Hiring Foreign Teachers and Demand Placement of SA Learners in Schools

• Operation Dudula hit the streets of Johannesburg to protest the presence of foreigners in SA schools
• The controversial group called for the prioritisation of local learners for placements in schools and for local teachers to be hired
• The protest comes after it was announced that thousands of grade one and eight learners are still awaiting placement for the 2023 academic year

JOHANNESBURG - Operation Dudula members descended upon the Gauteng Department of Education offices in Johannesburg, demanding job placements for locally certified unemployed educators.

The protesters added calls for prioritising placements for South African learners in schools to their list of demands. The organisation claimed that the department prioritised jobs and placements for unlawful foreign immigrants over South Africans.

Read also

KZN flood victims still homeless as government and landlords battle it out over money

Operation dudula accused the department of contravening immigration laws by placing foreign learners and employing foreign teachers while South Africans are being neglected, SABC News reported.

While addressing the crowd of protesters, Operation Dudula's National Coordinator, Thabo Ngayo, said that foreigners are turning South Africa into a banana republic.

Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane said the department would work with the leadership of Operation Dudula to establish common ground on the problems presented in Dudula's memorandum of demands.

Thousands of Learners still await placement for the 2023 academic year

Operation Dudula's protests come hot on the heels of the announcement that Thousands of learners are still awaiting public school placements for the 2023 academic year.

The MEC of Education Panyaza Lesufi said the Gauteng Department of Education received a record number of applications for the placement of grade one and eight pupils in the province's public schools.

Read also

Police Minister Bheki Cele said police need help in combating illegal mining in the country

According to Mail and Guardian, Lesufi said 764 062 applications were submitted, but only 332 477 learners had been placed in their first-choice schools because of the limited space available.

South Africans weigh in on Operation Dudula's demands

Some South Africans voiced their support for Operation Dudula's protest.

Below are some comments:

@mczuriel asked:

"Kanti, are the qualified local teachers not able to apply for themselves?"

@KK_Matshi claimed:

"I'm 100% behind Operation Dudula. Every country must prioritize its own citizens first. We have the highest unemployment rate in Africa, but we still fighting for jobs with illegal immigrants"

@ALETTAHA added:

"Everyone is marching for money nobody actually wants to do the actual work."

SIU probes NSFAS corruption, higher education minister Blade Nzimande welcomed investigations

In another story, Briefly News reported that the Department of Higher Education and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme would cooperate with an investigation into allegations of corruption and fraud at NSFAS.

Read also

Cogta Minister proposes gifts over R1k should be declared in bid to clean up local government

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation in August that authorised the SIU to probe maladministration and fraud at the financial aid scheme and recover any financial losses suffered by the state.

Nzimande said the pilferage of funds at NSFAS threatens the state's ability to provide eligible poor students with financial assistance.

Source: Briefly News