Anti-immigration organisations demanding schools reserve places for South African -born learners protested in Macassar on Tuesday 14 October, but community leaders say their anger is misplaced.

In a Facebook live video posted that day protesters from March and March and Capies in Action lined the streets of Macassar before reading a memorandum to False Bay Primary School principal Desmond Engelbrecht in front of the school, before doing the same at Zandvliet High.

Both organisations had previously led anti-immigration marches, including a countrywide march by March and March on 30 June this year. March and March describes itself as a grassroots movement advocating for stronger border control and immigration enforcement, while Capies in Action focuses on South African citizens’ employment rights, particularly against employers who prioritise foreign nationals.

Julian Keet, the chairperson of the Macassar Education and Environmental Forum, said while the need to address the issue of space in Macassar schools is important the organisations are targeting the wrong people.

“It is not the school’s responsibility to place learners but the provincial education department.”

The forum had raised this issue at the beginning of the year with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) in petitions regarding the placement of learners in Macassar for the 2026 academic school year.

“We are focusing on getting local learners access to the schools,” Keet said.

He said the complexity of the matter is exacerbated by the WCED’s online-application system, which he said disadvantages locals who do not have access to computers or the internet.

“That is why we are asking parents not to delay the enrolment of their children.”

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Community leader Christiaan Stewart voiced his disapproval on social media of what he claims are “outsiders” coming into the community.

He said the intention to fight for placement may be good. “You cannot just come in, speak to two or three people and then toyi-toyi in front of our schools.”

Steward said people should be protesting at the education department, and not the schools.

“Our community’s kids don’t deserve this,” the post read.

A prominent local educator in Macassar, who asked to remain anonymous, echoed these sentiments. “They (WCED) must get rid of the online application.”

The source highlighted that the crux of the issue didn’t lie with spaces in current schools but the need for more schools in Macassar.

“There are six primary schools and only two high schools. What do you think happens to learners after they finish Grade 7?”

This is an issue that was brought up more than a year ago by the education forum’s sister body the Ward 109 Development Forum.

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The educator explained that the organisations’ demands for South African-born learners to be prioritised over foreign-born learners are unfounded.

“Registration at schools in Macassar is open to everyone and there is no problem of too many foreign-born learners.” they said.

Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the WCED, confirmed this.

“The number of foreign learners in the system (Grade R to 12) is less than 5%, with first-time enrolments within the system between 2020 and 2024 from other countries at an average of 1 331 learners per year.”

She said there are approximately 55 000 foreign learners in the province’s education system of 1,23 million learners, which represents only 4,5%.

“Allegations that foreign learners are being prioritised are denied. These are very dangerous and defamatory accusations.”

Hammond added that the WCED had yet to receive the memorandum with the full list of demands.

She explained that the department has a responsibility to place all learners within school-going age as enshrined in the Constitution. This means everyone has the right to a basic education, including undocumented or foreign children.

Hammond said that while the province has enough school seats overall, some areas experience higher demand due to new settlements and migration, and the Rapid School Build programme targets these areas. However, she claimed that what made it immensely difficult was when large numbers of learners arrive within a community in December, expecting placement immediately.

“Unfortunately, new schools or classrooms cannot be built overnight, however, we try and predict these trends as far as possible.”

She stated the department’s position from two years ago remained unchanged, and there were no plans to build a new high school in Macassar following the completion of False Bay Primary in 2023.

With regard to the community’s struggle with online registration Hammond highlighted the system’s benefits, including allowing parents to apply from home, track applications in real time, and submit one application for multiple schools.

“Assistance is provided for all who require it, either at our district offices or at pop-up help desks,” said Hammond.

The next pop-ups will be in November, with dates and venues still to be released.

“Parents have over a month to apply, and if required, paper applications can be made,” she added.

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