Teachers' unions have strongly defended the right of undocumented children to access public education, saying no child should be punished for the actions of their parents.
This comes after a public outcry sparked by newly gazetted draft regulations of the Basic Education Laws Amendment BELA Act, published for comment earlier this month. On the other hand, formations like Operation Dudula have threatened to raid schools and remove pupils without documentation as of next year.
National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA Naptosa general secretary Basil Manuel said educators could not support the exclusion of undocumented children from accessing basic education.