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13 Feb, 2026
Tragic death of Bernard Isaacs Primary School 5-year-old: protecting our youngest learners
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement It is with profound sadness that United Democratic Movement (UDM) reflects on the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of a five-year-old learner at Bernard Isaacs Primary School in Coronationville, Johannesburg. Parents entrust schools with the care and protection of their children every single day. That trust must never be compromised. The loss of a child in a school environment is not only a family tragedy, but also a national concern. We note that the Gauteng Department of Education has appointed an independent law firm to investigate this matter. The process must be thorough, transparent and credible. The family deserves clear answers. The community deserves clarity; and where accountability is required, it must follow without delay. Tragically, this is not an isolated incident. Earlier this year, an eight-year-old learner at Klapmuts Primary School in the Western Cape died during school hours under circumstances that required police investigation. In 2025, another eight-year-old learner at Alberview Primary School in Gauteng died after sustaining injuries while playing at school, prompting an independent departmental inquiry. When incidents of this nature occur repeatedly across provinces, they demand more than case-by-case responses. They demand systemic intervention. The UDM therefore calls on the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube and her department to initiate a nationwide review of school safety protocols. This must include: 1. A comprehensive audit of supervision policies during school hours and school events. 2. A review of infrastructure safety, including classrooms, playgrounds and sanitation facilities. 3. Clear national minimum standards for emergency response procedures at schools. 4. Mandatory reporting and transparency frameworks when serious incidents occur. 5. Immediate psychosocial support mechanisms for learners, staff and families affected by school tragedies. The safety of children cannot depend solely on provincial capacity or individual school management. National leadership must set clear standards, enforce compliance, and ensure that preventative measures are implemented uniformly across the country. Schools must remain safe spaces for learning, not sites of preventable tragedy. If gaps exist, they must be closed. If policies are inadequate, they must be strengthened. If oversight is weak, it must be reinforced. Our thoughts remain with the family of the young learner and all families who continue to seek answers in similar cases. We owe it to them, and to every child in South Africa, to move from reaction to prevention.
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12 Feb, 2026
Force on campus: SAPS and private security move on NMU students in a crisis that was foreseeable
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is deeply concerned by developments at Nelson Mandela University, where both private security personnel and members of the South African Police Service have reportedly been deployed to disperse protesting students using water cannons, stun grenades and paintball rounds. The videos circulating on social media are alarming. The sight of private security advancing in formation, supported by SAPS, creates the perception of a militarised response in what should be a space of learning and engagement. Two issues must be addressed clearly. First, the role of private security. Private security companies are contracted to protect property and maintain campus safety. They are not public order policing units. If private contractors were authorised to deploy crowd control weaponry, serious questions arise about oversight, rules of engagement and accountability. Who authorised their mandate? What protocols governed their conduct? Were they acting independently, or under instruction from management or SAPS? Second, the involvement of SAPS. The police carry a constitutional responsibility to maintain public order. However, the threshold for deploying stun grenades and water cannons against students must be exceptionally high. What was the threat assessment? Were lives at immediate risk? Were alternative de-escalation measures attempted before force was used? The UDM has repeatedly warned that the risk of unrest during registration periods remains high due to perennial and unresolved challenges, including accommodation shortages, funding delays and administrative bottlenecks. These pressures build year after year. When they are not addressed proactively and transparently, the likelihood of confrontation increases significantly. What we are witnessing now is not an isolated event but part of a pattern that should have been anticipated and mitigated through better planning and engagement. The combination of private security and state policing in a campus protest environment risks blurring lines of authority and responsibility. When force is used, clarity on command structures and accountability becomes essential. If criminal acts were committed, they must be dealt with lawfully. But the public is entitled to know what specific conduct justified a response of this magnitude. Transparency is not optional in circumstances where young people may have been placed at risk. The UDM calls for: 1. A joint public briefing by university management and SAPS explaining the chain of command, the authorisation process and the justification for the level of force deployed. 2. Confirmation of injuries, if any, and details of medical and psychological support offered to affected students. 3. A clear outline of the protocols governing private security involvement in crowd control situations on campuses. 4. Immediate re-establishment of structured dialogue between management and recognised student leadership. We also call on students to remain calm, to act responsibly and to ensure that their protests remain peaceful and within the bounds of the law. Legitimate grievances must not be undermined by actions that place lives at risk or damage property. Reasoned engagement strengthens the cause. Escalation weakens it. South Africa’s higher education institutions are already navigating deep systemic pressures. Escalation through visible force risks entrenching mistrust and instability. Our campuses must remain spaces of safety, dialogue and democratic engagement. Accountability from both private security contractors and law enforcement authorities is now essential to restore calm and public confidence.
Admin
09 Feb, 2026
The perennial crisis of degrees without beds
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement Recent scenes of students arriving at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and sleeping outside campus in the hope of securing a bed are a stark reminder that South Africa’s student accommodation crisis is not new. It is perennial, systemic, and worsening. Reports from the start of the 2026 academic year show that hundreds of students were left waiting without confirmed residence placements, highlighting a failure of planning, policy and delivery at every level of our higher education system. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has noted that it does not run university residences and that the responsibility for placing students in housing lies with institutions themselves. NSFAS also pointed out that some accommodation providers accepted students without confirming the finalisation of their funding, adding complexity to an already fraught process. These statements, while factually accurate, expose a cycle in which no single actor takes full responsibility, yet the consequences fall squarely on students. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes that this crisis persists year after year for reasons that straight reporting can only begin to explain: • Under-investment in public accommodation has left universities unable to match the rapid growth in student enrolment. Many institutions simply lack enough beds for even a fraction of students who need them. • NSFAS funding allocations, caps and timelines remain misaligned with real accommodation costs and academic calendars. Students arrive before their allowances are paid and before accommodation placements are finalised, often with no interim support. • Private accommodation markets have expanded in the absence of sufficient public options, but high rents and safety concerns mean that private housing is out of reach for many students and is not a true substitute for university-linked residences, • Coordination failures between NSFAS, universities and private providers create bottlenecks in accreditation, payment and placement decisions. Each year the same breakdowns occur because systemic coordination has never been fixed. The result is predictable i.e. students arrive with hope and ambition, only to find themselves without a safe place to sleep, study or rest. This is not about isolated mishaps at a single campus. It is about a policy vacuum where capacity, planning and student welfare are treated as secondary to enrolment figures. The perennial nature of this crisis speaks to leadership failure across the sector. The UDM urges that: 1. Government and NSFAS immediately align funding timelines with academic calendars and accommodation market realities. 2. Institutions adopt transparent placement criteria, backed by interim housing solutions for students still waiting for beds. 3. Long-term investment in public student housing must be prioritised, especially for TVET and CET students who are too often excluded from structured accommodation support. 4. Private accreditation and regulation must be strengthened so that student experience is protected and affordable. Students should never have to sleep outside campus to pursue their education, yet here we are, again. It is time for real, lasting solutions.
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12 Jan, 2026
Honouring the class of 2025 while confronting the truth about our schools
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) extends its sincere congratulations to the Class of 2025 on the release of the National Senior Certificate results. These results represent more than academic outcomes. They reflect perseverance, sacrifice, and resilience by learners who completed their schooling journey under challenging social and economic conditions. We commend the learners who succeeded, not only for their results, but for the discipline and determination required to reach this milestone. We also recognise educators, school support staff, parents, guardians, and communities whose collective effort played a decisive role in supporting learners throughout the year. Education remains a shared national responsibility, and where communities stand together, young people are better equipped to succeed. At the same time, the UDM cautions against celebrating pass rates without confronting the deeper realities within the basic education system. While progress must be acknowledged, it must not be used to conceal persistent inequalities between schools, unsafe and dilapidated infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, shortages of learning materials, and weak administrative oversight. These challenges continue to deny many learners an equal opportunity to realise their full potential. We are particularly concerned about learners who did not achieve the outcomes they hoped for. Their futures must not be written off or ignored. Government has a responsibility to ensure that meaningful post school pathways exist, including access to second chance programmes, skills training, TVET colleges, and community education opportunities. No young person should be abandoned at the point of disappointment. The UDM reiterates that strong matric results do not automatically translate into a healthy education system. True success will only be measured when every learner, regardless of geography or background, learns in a safe, well-resourced school and is supported by a capable and accountable state. We call on the Department of Basic Education to act decisively on the findings of investigations into systemic failures, to enforce accountability where there has been negligence, and to prioritise infrastructure, teacher support, and learner welfare as matters of urgency. Community support strengthens schools, but government must remain fully accountable for delivering quality basic education. To the Class of 2025, we say this. Be proud of your effort. Your worth is not defined by a single set of results, but by your determination to keep moving forward. The UDM remains committed to advocating for an education system that is fair, inclusive, and worthy of the aspirations of South Africa’s youth.
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21 Oct, 2025
Call for calm and no protest action at Milnerton High tomorrow
Statement by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP, UDM Deputy President and Leader in Parliament The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is aware of calls circulating for protest action at Milnerton High School tomorrow, following the assault of ten Grade 10 learners during an alleged initiation ritual. The UDM does not support the call for protest action at the school tomorrow. Such action would only disrupt the learning environment and risk inflaming tensions at a time when constructive engagement is yielding results. Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa has met with the parents of the affected learners, who expressed appreciation for the support extended to their children and for the constructive manner in which the matter is being handled. They have appealed for calm and for all actions to remain peaceful and respectful of the ongoing processes. The UDM notes and welcomes the announcement by the Milnerton High School, that the School Governing Body has met and approved the precautionary suspension of eight learners. This step was taken to ensure a fair and transparent process while maintaining a safe and conducive learning environment for all learners. The UDM commends this responsible action, which demonstrates that the matter is being dealt with seriously and in accordance with due process. The UDM calls on all concerned parties to act with patience and responsibility. The matric learners are currently writing their final examinations, and it is essential that their focus and peace of mind are not disrupted. The safety and stability of the school environment must be preserved so that teaching and learning can continue without interference. South Africans must allow due process to take its course. Justice for the victims must be achieved through the rule of law, not through disorder.
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21 Oct, 2025
CPUT: campuses are no safe haven, as another student is raped
Statement by Lucia Matomane, UDESMO Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson The United Democratic Students’ Movement (UDESMO) is dismayed and angered by the alleged rape of a 23-year-old female student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Observatory residence. It is unacceptable that such a violent crime could be committed against a student in an environment meant for learning and personal growth. No student should ever feel unsafe or be sexually targeted in a space that is supposed to nurture their future. UDESMO extends its heartfelt sympathies to the victim, her family, and the wider CPUT student community during this deeply distressing time. Sexual violence has no place in our society, and least of all on our university campuses. It is especially troubling that this incident has occurred so close to the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness and driving action against the very crimes we continue to witness. Sadly, this case is one of many in a country where gender-based violence remains one of South Africa’s most urgent human rights crises, marked by shocking levels of abuse, rape, and femicide. It has been reported that a 24-year-old male student has been arrested in connection with the incident and has already appeared before the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court. We understand that the case has been postponed to 27 October for a formal bail application. UDESMO commends the courage of the CPUT students who have peacefully taken to the streets to demand justice and accountability. Their actions reflect the growing frustration of young South Africans who continue to feel unsafe and unheard.
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21 Oct, 2025
UDM demands accountability after Milnerton High bullying incident
Statement by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP, UDM Deputy President and Leader in Parliament The United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes with great concern the disturbing incident that took place at Milnerton High School on Thursday, 16 October 2025, where ten Grade 10 learners were brutally assaulted in what has been described as an initiation ritual carried out by Grade 11 boys, allegedly members of the school’s first-team rugby squad. Reports indicate that the victims were struck with various objects, including hockey sticks, during this so-called initiation. One learner sustained serious injuries and required medical attention, while others remain traumatised. Some of the victims have reportedly received threats from those implicated in the attack. Video footage circulating on social media appears to confirm that the incident was not an isolated act of bullying, but an organised initiation assault conducted within a school environment. The recording shows a group of older learners in sports attire surrounding and striking younger pupils while others looked on and encouraged the abuse. This reinforces the urgent need for accountability not only from the perpetrators but also from the school authorities who failed to prevent or detect such behaviour. The UDM welcomes confirmation from Western Cape Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Thembisile Pathekile, that a criminal investigation into the incident is underway, following Mr Kwankwa’s engagement with his office. The Party also notes the assurance from Western Cape MEC for Education, Mr David Manier, that disciplinary measures are being implemented after Mr Kwankwa raised the matter with him. Mr Kwankwa will also personally meet with the parents of the affected learners during the course of the day to hear their experiences first-hand, monitor progress on both the criminal and disciplinary fronts, and ensure that the learners receive the protection and support they deserve. While these steps are necessary, the UDM maintains that the matter cannot end there. We are writing to Minister of Basic Education Ms Siviwe Gwarube to demand that her Department intervene decisively to eradicate violent initiation practices from all schools, and to institute a comprehensive review of learner-safety protocols, particularly in sporting environments. In addition, Mr Kwankwa has engaged the Western Cape MEC for Social Development, Mr Jaco Londt, who has agreed to assist in ensuring that psychosocial support services are provided to the affected learners and their families without delay. We will soon write formally to Mr Londt with the details of the affected learners to facilitate this support. The UDM welcomes this commitment, as the emotional and psychological trauma inflicted by such violence can be long-lasting, and professional assistance is essential to help these young people recover and rebuild their confidence. This act of violence is indefensible. It represents a breakdown of discipline and moral leadership within the school environment. There can be no justification for the culture of intimidation and abuse that continues to masquerade as tradition or team bonding in some schools. Bullying and violent initiation practices have no place in a democratic society that values human dignity and child protection. Schools must be safe spaces where learners grow in confidence and character, not fear and humiliation. The UDM urges parents, teachers, and learners to unite in speaking out against school violence and to restore the values of safety, respect, and discipline in our education system.
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21 Oct, 2025
Gade hides behind matric exams as Eastern Cape education crumbles
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape condemns the conduct of Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade, who attempted to postpone Parliamentary oversight visits under the pretext of matric examinations. This was not a scheduling conflict. It was a blatant attempt to dodge responsibility in the face of damning findings about the provincial department’s failures, including criticism from members of his own party. The Auditor-General has confirmed that the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education spent 99.9% of its budget yet achieved only 10% of its infrastructure targets. Even African National Congress (ANC) Members of Parliament were forced to admit that the situation is devastating and called for heads to roll. Instead of welcoming oversight and taking urgent corrective action, MEC Gade’s instinct was to evade scrutiny and hide behind the hard work of matriculants who deserve his full accountability, not excuses. The ANC’s provincial government is effectively pretending to fix education infrastructure while knowing the maths do not add up. Officials admit that the province needs R72 billion to clear its backlog within ten years, yet they budget only R1.8 billion a year. That is less than a quarter of what is required, and even those limited funds fail to deliver. Spending 99.9% of a budget while meeting only 10% of targets is not progress; it is the illusion of governance. If the provincial education department truly spends 99.9% of its budget, the people of this province deserve to know what it is being spent on. Where are the new classrooms, the repaired roofs, the functioning toilets and the rebuilt storm-damaged schools? How can so much money disappear into paperwork, travel and administration while learners sit under leaking prefabs and teachers work without electricity or proper sanitation? This is not a resource problem; it is a leadership and accountability crisis. The timing of the exams does not absolve MEC Gade from appearing before Parliament or explaining how billions have been spent with almost nothing to show for it. Leadership means facing the truth, not running from it. The province’s learners study in prefabricated classrooms, hundreds of schools remain closed or vandalised, and 427 schools still have pit latrine toilets. These are the real emergencies, not the Parliamentary calendar. The UDM in the Eastern Cape welcomes this decision and commends Parliament for standing firm in defence of accountability. Oversight is not a favour to the provincial executive; it is a constitutional duty. The time for excuses is over. The children of the Eastern Cape deserve leadership that works, not officials who hide behind exams and empty audits.
Admin
20 Oct, 2025
Class of 2025: Good luck matrics
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) extends its best wishes to all matric learners across South Africa as they begin writing their final National Senior Certificate examinations tomorrow. This is a defining moment in the lives of young South Africans who have worked hard and persevered through many challenges. The UDM acknowledges the dedication of learners, teachers, parents and guardians who have supported this journey, especially in communities where resources are limited and conditions are often difficult. Education remains the most powerful tool to change lives and build a just and prosperous nation. The UDM therefore calls on government to ensure that all examination centres are safe, well-resourced and free from disruptions that could disadvantage learners. Every matriculant deserves a fair opportunity to succeed. To the Class of 2025, write with confidence, focus and determination. Your future and the future of our country depend on your success. Your success is South Africa’s success. The UDM wishes you strength and focus for the coming weeks.
Admin
17 Oct, 2025
A teacher’s betrayal: UDMYV demands justice for exploited young women
Statement by Zintombi Sododile, Chairperson of United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard (UDM Youth Vanguard) expresses its deep outrage at revelations that a teacher from the Eastern Cape stands accused of preying on young women through a trafficking and sexual exploitation ring. It is alleged that this educator targeted women from rural towns such as Qumbu, Mthatha and Ngqeleni, transported them to East London, and exploited their vulnerability for profit under the pretence of offering accommodation and opportunity. Although the investigation reportedly began in September 2023, it has taken more than a year for the matter to reach court. It remains unclear whether the delay lies with the police, the prosecution, or both, but it reflects a wider concern about how cases involving the exploitation of women and children are handled. The slow pace of justice deepens the trauma of survivors and weakens public confidence in law enforcement. The UDM Youth Vanguard calls for clarity and accountability from all institutions involved in the handling of this case. This case exposes a shocking abuse of authority and a moral collapse within an institution meant to nurture and protect the youth. When a teacher, entrusted with guiding the next generation, becomes a perpetrator of such heinous crimes, it betrays the trust of families, communities, and the education system itself. The UDM Youth Vanguard condemns this reprehensible conduct in the strongest terms and demands: 1. The swift and uncompromising prosecution of all those implicated in this trafficking network. 2. An immediate internal investigation by the Department of Education to determine how this went undetected. 3. Comprehensive psychosocial support and protection for all affected survivors. 4. The introduction of stricter vetting and ethics oversight for educators and school staff. 5. A national awareness campaign on human trafficking and sexual exploitation targeting schools and communities. We call on the Minister of Basic Education and the Minister of Police to treat this case as a wake-up call. South Africa cannot allow those entrusted with public service to use their positions to exploit the poor and the powerless. We cannot build a just society while predators hide behind positions of trust. The UDMYV pledges to raise awareness among young people about their rights, to support survivors in seeking justice, and to continue speaking out against abuse wherever it occurs. Every child deserves safety, respect, and a future free from exploitation.
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16 Oct, 2025
Three decades later, the ANC still fails Eastern Cape learners
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape condemns the ongoing decay and abandonment of school infrastructure across the province. What we see today is not a sudden crisis but the direct outcome of three decades of neglect under the African National Congress (ANC) government. The ruling party’s failures in planning, oversight and accountability have left thousands of learners without safe and functional schools, while its officials hide behind bureaucracy and empty promises. No one takes responsibility for the hundreds of closed school buildings scattered across the province. Public infrastructure is collapsing while officials pass blame from one department to another. More than a thousand schools have been shut down, many left vandalised and stripped of value, while children in other communities are still learning in structures that are unsafe, overcrowded or falling apart. The tragedy of the Ginsberg Crèche in Qonce, formerly known as King William’s Town, founded by Steve Biko as a living symbol of self-reliance and community dignity, captures the depth of this failure. To allow such a historic and visionary space to decay is an act of utter disrespect, not only to Biko’s legacy but to the children it was meant to serve. A place once built to nurture young minds now lies in ruins, overrun by weeds and indifference. It stands as a monument to how far this province has drifted from its moral duty to protect and educate its children. The UDM in the Eastern Cape calls for the following urgent actions: 1. Eastern Cape Department of Education to conduct a full audit of all closed, abandoned and collapsing schools, publish the findings, and present an infrastructure recovery plan with clear deadlines for refurbishment, reconstruction and security. 2. Provincial Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to take responsibility for maintaining and securing all disused school properties to prevent vandalism, theft and further deterioration. 3. Provincial Treasury to ensure that funds allocated for education infrastructure are ring-fenced and fully spent within the financial year, with public quarterly reports on expenditure and progress. 4. National Department of Basic Education to intervene where provincial capacity has failed through targeted support, technical expertise and oversight to fast-track safe and dignified learning facilities. 5. Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education to institute a formal inquiry into the collapse and abandonment of public-school infrastructure in the Eastern Cape and demand accountability for wasted funds and stalled projects. 6. Communities and School Governing Bodies to guard against vandalism and theft and insist that local schools and historic educational sites such as the Ginsberg Crèche are restored and protected for future generations. The UDM in the Eastern Cape echoes the call to find constructive and community-driven alternative uses for mothballed school buildings so that these spaces can once again serve public good rather than fall into ruin. No province with such deep educational need can afford to lose even a single classroom to incompetence.
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14 Oct, 2025
We go to learn, not to die: UDESMO demands justice at Nelson Mandela University
Statement by Lucia Matomane, UDESMO Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson The United Democratic Students’ Movement (UDESMO) in the Eastern Cape deeply is outraged and heartbroken by last night’s brutal break-in at a Nelson Mandela University (NMU) residence in Summerstrand, a crime that left one female student stabbed to death and another gravely injured. This is not just another headline. This is a fellow student gone. A family shattered, and a community with trust broken. For too long, NMU students, especially women, have lived in fear in places that are supposed to be safe. How many times have we heard of robberies, altercations, deaths, or threats in off-campus residences, or on-campus spaces where security is lax? In 2023, there was the murder of Zimkhitha Ntshisela, a student at NMU’s George campus, who was violently stabbed in her own room, and in October 2024, another NMU student was killed during an altercation with a residence manager at a private off-campus residence. These are not isolated incidents; they form a pattern of negligence, of broken promises, of inadequate leadership. We cannot accept a reality where our institutions of learning become unsafe spaces for the very youth we send to build their futures. How does an armed and unknown man gain access to a residence undetected? Where was security when our sisters were under attack? These are questions NMU must answer urgently and transparently. We demand accountability from the university. The safety of students cannot continue to be an afterthought. We call on NMU management to immediately review and strengthen its security measures at all residences, both on and off campus. Our children are sent to university to learn, not to be killed. We stand in solidarity with the families, friends, and the entire NMU community as they mourn this senseless loss. May the soul of the departed rest in peace, may the injured student make a full and speedy recovery, and may justice be served without delay.
Admin
13 Oct, 2025
Growing Minds scandal exposes Western Cape’s education blind spot
Statement by Bulelwa Zondeka, Chairperson of the UDM in the Western Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Western Cape is deeply concerned by revelations that the Growing Minds Summerfield campus in Gardens, in the inner-city of Cape Town, has been operating high school grades without proper registration. Parents who enrolled their children in good faith have now discovered that the school’s learners were not recorded on the national Centralised Education Management Information System (CEMIS), and that their children’s matric futures are now in jeopardy. This incident exposes a disturbing failure of governance and oversight within the provincial education system. It is unacceptable that a school could operate for years beyond the grades for which it was registered, without detection or intervention from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). The WCED’s reactive posture, intervening only after parents raised alarm, shows the dangers of a fragmented and complaint-driven regulatory system. The WCED’s official response, which shifts the responsibility onto parents to verify a school’s registration, is wholly inadequate and deeply misleading. The Department claims it “encourages all parents who are considering an independent school to first ensure that the school is registered for the grades offered.” Yet there is no publicly accessible database through which parents can make such verification. Expecting parents to act as investigators while the state withholds basic information is unreasonable and negligent. The fact that Growing Minds expanded from Grade 7 to Grade 11 as far back as 2022, and that the WCED only “became aware” in 2024, speaks volumes about the Department’s weak inspection systems. Oversight that depends on parental complaints rather than proactive monitoring is not oversight at all; it is abdication of duty. The UDM in the Western Cape reiterates that education is not a private enterprise but a public trust. When schools operate outside the law, it is learners and families who pay the price. This incident should be a wake-up call for the province and the nation to strengthen the integrity of our school registration and monitoring systems. The UDM in the Western Cape therefore calls for: 1. A comprehensive investigation by the WCED into how Growing Minds Summerfield was allowed to expand illegally, and whether departmental officials failed in their duties of inspection and enforcement. 2. The urgent creation by the WCED and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) of a public, online national register of all registered schools, clearly indicating accreditation status, curriculum, and approved grades, so that parents can verify information easily. 3. The DBE, as the custodian of CEMIS, to ensure that learner registration on CEMIS is mandatory and enforced in all provinces, with compliance audits conducted quarterly in collaboration with provincial departments. 4. The DBE, Umalusi and provincial education departments to jointly develop a School Closure and Learner Transfer Protocol to protect learners whenever a school’s registration is withdrawn or discontinued. The UDM in the Western Cape believes that quality education begins with strong oversight, transparency, and accountability. The Western Cape prides itself on high standards, yet incidents such as this one reveal an alarming blind spot in the provincial Education Department’s supervision of independent schools. Oversight must be proactive, not reactive. The UDM in the Western Cape calls on Education MEC David Maynier to take full responsibility for addressing these systemic weaknesses and to present to the Provincial Legislature within 30 days a plan outlining measures to prevent a repeat of this scandal. Learners’ futures cannot depend on parental vigilance alone. Education is a constitutional right, not a commercial experiment. We will continue to monitor this case closely and stand with affected parents in demanding justice and reform.
Admin
11 Oct, 2025
Scholar transport chaos a legacy of decades of ANC failure
Scholar transport chaos a legacy of decades of ANC failure Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape Years of poor planning and neglect have turned the Eastern Cape’s scholar transport programme into a crisis that now threatens thousands of learners. The decision by the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) to suspend scholar transport from 13 October is the direct consequence of the Eastern Cape government’s continued failure to manage and fund this vital programme. This is not an isolated incident but the cumulative outcome of years of mismanagement under African National Congress (ANC) administrations that have consistently failed to prioritise education in this province. For more than a decade, provincial administration has ignored every warning about late payments, corruption, and systemic underfunding. The situation has now reached breaking point. Between 2022 and 2025 alone, the same problems have repeated year after year: • Operators go unpaid for months, leaving them bankrupt while learners are stranded. • In 2024 alone, 50 000 qualifying pupils were excluded from the programme because of budget shortfalls. • The Makhanda High Court ruled in December 2024 that the Departments of Education and Transport acted unconstitutionally by failing to provide scholar transport to all qualifying learners. • The 2025/2026 provincial budget of R800 million has already collapsed under pressure, with funds exhausted by October and scholar transport once again paralysed. • Investigations have revealed millions wasted on “ghost scholar” contracts while real children are left to walk dangerous distances to school. The right to basic education is immediately realisable under the Constitution. The Eastern Cape provincial government has a direct legal duty to provide safe and reliable transport to learners and cannot hide behind excuses of limited funds or administrative delay. Its repeated failure to comply with court orders and to budget adequately for scholar transport places it in clear violation of the Constitution and in potential contempt of the Makhanda High Court judgment. This ongoing neglect is a betrayal of the province’s learners and a breach of the public trust. The UDM in the Eastern Cape demands decisive provincial implementation to restore this critical programme: 1. The Premier must establish a dedicated Provincial Task Team to oversee full implementation of the Makhanda High Court judgment. 2. The MEC for Finance, Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, and the MEC for Education must table an emergency adjustment budget to close funding shortfalls and ensure that all payments are made within 30 days. 3. The Department of Transport must publish a transparent list of all verified operators, payment schedules, and outstanding invoices, and must immediately investigate and eliminate the so-called “ghost scholar” contracts that have drained millions from the programme. 4. The Provincial Treasury must ring-fence all scholar transport funds and prevent diversion to other programmes. 5. The Provincial Legislature’s Education and Transport Committees must conduct monthly oversight visits to monitor compliance, investigate allegations of fraud and mismanagement, and report publicly on progress. There can be no excuse for the Eastern Cape provincial government that once again fails its most vulnerable citizens. The children of the Eastern Cape deserve leadership that plans, pays, and delivers. The UDM in the Eastern Cape will continue to hold the provincial administration accountable until every qualifying learner has safe and reliable transport to school, not as a favour but as a right. This crisis is the direct legacy of the ANC’s decades of neglect and poor governance, which have left the province trapped in a cycle of underfunding, corruption, and administrative failure. As a partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), the UDM in the Eastern Cape calls on Minister of Basic Education, Ms Gwarube, to intervene decisively. The Minister must ensure that the Eastern Cape government complies with the Makhanda High Court judgment and delivers on its obligations to learners and communities. The GNU cannot allow provincial failures to undermine national commitments to education. Minister Gwarube must demand accountability, enforce compliance with court orders, and ensure that public funds allocated for scholar transport are used transparently and efficiently to restore faith in government and uphold the constitutional right to education.
Admin
09 Oct, 2025
Fort Hare must rise again through dialogue and reform
Statement by Lucia Matomane, UDESMO Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson The United Democratic Students’ Movement (UDESMO) is deeply disturbed by the violent turn of events at the University of Fort Hare. As an organisation that stands for the right of students to learn, organise, and express themselves without fear, we are both pained by the destruction of this historic institution and compelled to speak to the deeper causes that led to this crisis. What is unfolding at Fort Hare is not simply an outbreak of lawlessness. It is the eruption of years of frustration among students who have been ignored, sidelined, and denied a voice in decisions that directly affect their lives and education. Students have long raised concerns about governance failures, delayed or inconsistent SRC elections, financial exclusions, and an institutional culture that too often treats them as subjects rather than partners in higher education. These grievances have been met not with dialogue and reform, but with silence, interdicts, and sometimes violence. UDESMO does not condone the destruction of property or the endangerment of lives. Acts of arson and violence do not advance our struggle for a just and accountable university system. They set it back. Yet condemning violence must not become a way to avoid addressing the legitimate demands of the student body. The University’s leadership, the Department of Higher Education, and the broader Government of National Unity must confront the structural crises that continue to ignite campuses across the country: underfunding, authoritarian management styles, and the exclusion of poor and working-class youth. Fort Hare, once a beacon of African intellectual liberation, cannot become a symbol of despair. UDESMO calls for: 1. An independent mediation process to rebuild trust between the university administration, students, and workers. 2. Immediate support for affected students, including trauma counselling and academic recovery plans. 3. A national dialogue on student governance to ensure democratic representation at all institutions of higher learning. 4. Firm action against those who exploit unrest to pursue political or criminal ends. 5. A review of campus security practices to end the cycle of violence between students and private security personnel. The flames at Fort Hare should awaken the conscience of our nation. Students are not enemies of progress. We are its engine. The time has come for government, university leadership, and society at large to listen before the next campus burns.
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05 Oct, 2025
World Teachers Day: UDM salutes South Africa’s teachers
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement As the world marks World Teachers’ Day, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) pays heartfelt tribute to the men and women who dedicate their lives to the noble task of educating our nation. Teachers are not only transmitters of knowledge; they are the architects of our collective future. In every classroom, whether in a rural village, township or city, teachers shape South Africa’s destiny by nurturing the minds that will build tomorrow’s economy, democracy and leadership. They are mentors, counsellors and protectors who work under increasingly difficult conditions, yet continue to give of themselves with patience and purpose. Today, we must also confront the hard truth that many of our teachers operate in overcrowded classrooms, without adequate support or resources, and face safety and morale challenges that no professional should endure. It is unacceptable that educators are expected to inspire hope while they themselves feel neglected and undervalued. The UDM believes that education remains the single most powerful equaliser in our society, and that investing in teachers is investing in the nation’s stability and growth. We therefore call for the urgent improvement of working conditions and remuneration for educators, particularly in rural and under-resourced schools. We further call for the reintroduction of teacher training and mentorship programmes to restore the professionalism and discipline that once defined the teaching vocation. Stronger partnerships between schools, communities and government are essential to ensure that every learner studies in an environment that is safe, supportive and conducive to growth. Happy World Teachers’ Day.
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28 Sep, 2025
Restore our teachers’ dignity: support them, pay them, protect them
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is deeply alarmed by the growing crisis in South Africa’s education system, as mounting evidence shows that thousands of teachers are either leaving the profession or contemplating resignation. Reports this year confirm that nearly half of South Africa’s teachers want to quit, citing unbearable stress, excessive administrative duties, intimidation by learners and parents, poor pay, and lack of meaningful support. Teaching is one of the most critical professions in South Africa’s economy. Yet teachers are being demoralised, overburdened, and driven from classrooms at the very moment our country most needs stability and quality in education. This is not only an education crisis but a national crisis, directly affecting the learning outcomes of millions of children. The UDM’s position is clear: we must restore dignity, respect, and proper support to the teaching profession. We therefore call for: • Reducing administrative burdens by investing in support staff and digital systems so teachers can teach rather than drown in paperwork. • Strengthening teacher well-being through counselling services, professional development, and programmes to address burnout. • Improving safety and discipline in schools by addressing disruptive and violent behaviour from learners and parents. • Fair and competitive remuneration that recognises the value of teachers and secures their role as central to national development. • Investment in infrastructure and resources so that classrooms are fit for learning. The UDM also believes reforms to teacher training must be urgent and far-reaching. Closing teachers’ colleges was a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The UDM has long argued for their reopening, with reformed curricula to meet modern needs. In addition, we call for: • Proper orientation and induction for new teachers so that they are supported rather than burned out in their first years. • Stronger inclusion of early childhood development (ECD) practitioners in teacher training to build the pipeline from the earliest stages of learning. • Comprehensive language training to help teachers manage the difficult transition from mother tongue instruction to English in early grades. • Modern, evidence-based pedagogical tools and continuous professional development to ensure teachers remain prepared for the classrooms of the future. • Compulsory training and awareness on professional ethics and abuse prevention, to ensure that the rare but devastating cases of sexual misconduct by teachers are never repeated and that the integrity of the profession is protected. This crisis is further compounded by reports of job losses in early 2025 due to budget cuts in provincial education departments. No teacher should be jobless because of government failures. Teachers deserve a living wage, stability, and job security, not retrenchment notices. It is unacceptable that those tasked with shaping the nation’s future are the first to face the axe when budgets are squeezed. The root cause is plain: wasteful spending and corruption are bleeding provincial budgets dry. Funds meant to pay teachers and fix schools are stolen by inflated contracts, ghost workers, luxury perks for officials, and failed projects. Every rand looted is a teacher not paid, a school left to crumble, or a child robbed of education. Until this rot is confronted head-on, it is our teachers and learners who will keep paying the price for provincial government’s failures. We call on Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube and the Government of National Unity to act with urgency, and for basic education reform to be placed firmly on the National Dialogue agenda as a collective national priority The UDM believes that teachers are central to the success of our basic education system. Without them, the future of our children and of our nation itself is at risk.
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24 Sep, 2025
UDESMO calls for justice and protection for learners across South Africa!
Statement by Lucia Matomane, UDESMO Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson The United Democratic Students’ Movement (UDESMO) is horrified by the continuing violation of children in schools by those who are meant to protect them. The recent flood of cases, from St John’s College in Mthatha (Eastern Cape), to Tiyelelani Secondary in Soshanguve (Gauteng), from St Bernard High in Bloemfontein (Free State), to Thubalethu Secondary in Pinetown (KwaZulu-Natal), and Sunward Park High in Boksburg (Gauteng), shows that what should be a place of learning has become a hunting ground for predators hiding behind the title of “teacher.” We cannot pretend these are isolated incidents. Girls as young as 12 and 14 are being preyed upon. They are being impregnated, forced into abortions, infected with diseases, and threatened into silence. These crimes are ripping futures away from young people before their lives have even begun. The pain and anger of learners are boiling over. When pupils are forced to protest and shut down schools just to be heard, it shows the system has failed them. The silence of adults who should act faster is part of the problem. But there are signs that justice can prevail. In one case, a teacher who impregnated a learner, infected her with HIV, and then tried to escape responsibility was struck off the roll and ordered by a court to pay maintenance. That is what it looks like when the law works — but it should never take this long, and it should never be the exception. UDESMO demands more than words of sympathy. We demand: • No bail for accused teachers; our children’s lives matter more than the freedom of predators. • Swift prosecutions and maximum sentences for offenders. • Educators found guilty of sexual offences against learners must be struck off the roll and permanently listed the National Child Protection Register. • Real support for survivors in the form of counselling, protection, and dignity. We say enough is enough. Our schools must be safe. Our teachers must be trustworthy. And our generation refuses to accept a future where classrooms are places of fear.
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25 Sep, 2025
UDMYV demands justice at JS Skenjana Senior Secondary School
Statement by Zintombi Sododile, Chairperson of United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard (UDM Youth Vanguard) in the Eastern Cape is appalled by the allegations of sexual harassment and drug abuse at JS Skenjana Senior Secondary School in Dutywa. We stand in solidarity with the victims and condemn these acts in the strongest possible terms. A former learner from JS Skenjana Senior Secondary School recently took to social media to expose teachers who, despite serious allegations of sexual abuse, remain employed at the school. She stated that these allegations have been public knowledge for years, yet no decisive action has been taken. The UDM Youth Vanguard in the Eastern Cape finds this deeply disturbing and demands that the Department of Education act without delay to address these matters. We call on all learners who have experienced or witnessed any form of abuse to come forward and report these cases to law enforcement, especially if they fear intimidation. We assure all learners of our unwavering support and will stand with you throughout the process. We note that, tragically, one of the teachers implicated in these allegations, reportedly, suffered a heart attack upon discovering he was trending on social media for his involvement. While we cannot verify the circumstances surrounding his death, our focus remains on ensuring justice for the victims and preventing such incidents in the future. The UDM Youth Vanguard of the Eastern Cape demands that the Department of Education and the South African Police Service (SAPS) take immediate and decisive action to protect learners and hold perpetrators accountable. We will closely monitor this situation and advocate for the rights and dignity of learners to be safeguarded. In addition, the selling of drugs to learners in a nearby field is a serious concern that requires immediate attention from law enforcement. We urge the SAPS to increase patrols and ensure the safety of learners. UDM Youth Vanguard of the Eastern Cape welcomes the Eastern Cape Department of Education investigations into multiple cases of alleged sexual abuse across several schools in the province, and MEC Fundile Gade condemnation of such acts, as well as his vow to take decisive action to protect children's constitutional rights. We also welcome Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announcement that urgent steps to address reports of sexual abuse and disruptions to teaching in schools across the Eastern Cape will be taken. The UDM Youth Vanguard of the Eastern Cape’s key demands: • Immediate action from law enforcement to protect learners and hold perpetrators accountable. • Swift and decisive action from the Department of Education to investigate and address the allegations, • Increased patrols and safety measures to prevent drug sales and abuse, • Support and protection for victims and witnesses, • Implementation of comprehensive safety protocols in schools to prevent future incidents. • Mandatory training for educators and staff on identifying and reporting abuse. • Regular monitoring and evaluation of school safety measures. We believe that every learner has the right to a safe and supportive learning environment, free from fear and intimidation. The UDM Youth Vanguard in the Eastern Cape fully aligns with our mother body, the United Democratic Movement, in its stance of zero tolerance for any form of abuse or sexual misconduct, particularly within educational institutions.
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22 Sep, 2025
Schools must be safe: UDM calls out national scandal of sexual abuse
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is outraged and heartbroken by the recent reports of sexual abuse, harassment and misconduct involving educators across our country. In just the past month, cases have surfaced in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State which exposes a deep and systemic crisis in our education system. Recent incidents show the scale of this scourge. In Gauteng, teachers at Tiyelelani Secondary in Soshanguve were removed after protests exposed a pattern of sexual assault, while at Sunward Park High in Boksburg a teacher was dismissed for abusing pupils. In Bronkhorstspruit, a deputy principal faces charges of raping a nine-year-old and was let free on bail. In the Eastern Cape, St John’s College in Mthatha saw mass protests after allegations that teachers impregnated pupils and forced them into abortions, while further cases have surfaced in Dutywa and surrounding schools. In KwaZulu-Natal, teachers at Thubalethu Secondary in Pinetown are under investigation for molesting learners, while in Kokstad a teacher was arrested with weapons and stolen vehicles which raises further questions about vetting and oversight. In the Free State, learners from St Bernard High in Bloemfontein used social media to expose years of harassment by teachers, including explicit images and physical advances. These are not isolated cases. They reveal how schools across South Africa are failing in their most basic duty which is to keep children safe. Too often it has taken pupil protests, community outrage or viral social media posts for authorities to act. This points to a pattern of systemic neglect and silence. The UDM is clear. South African children cannot wait another day for change. We therefore demand urgent interventions. 1. Mandatory reporting of all allegations of sexual misconduct, with consequences for any adult who covers up such cases. 2. Immediate suspension and vetting of accused educators pending investigations, with permanent deregistration for those found guilty. 3. Swift criminal prosecutions that treat these cases with the seriousness they deserve, ensuring perpetrators are jailed and not quietly dismissed. 4. No bail for accused educators or authority figures facing charges of sexual abuse against learners. Allowing them back into communities, places children at further risk and undermines faith in the justice system. 5. Psychosocial support through counsellors and social workers permanently based in schools. 6. Accountability for principals and school governing bodies who fail to act, since inaction enables abuse to continue. Schools must be sanctuaries of learning, not sites of trauma. Our children’s right to safety and dignity is non-negotiable and the UDM will continue to press for systemic reforms to end this national shame.
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17 Sep, 2025
Jongikhaya crisis exposes broken promises on pit toilet eradication
Statement by Yongama Zigebe, Councillor in the City of Johannesburg for the United Democratic Movement and Chairperson of the S79 Committee on Gender, Youth and People with Disabilities The United Democratic Movement (UDM) warned earlier this year that the Department of Basic Education’s failure to meet its 31 March 2025 pit latrine eradication deadline would have real consequences. Today, those fears have been confirmed by the shocking conditions at Jongikhaya Junior Secondary School in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, where teachers and learners are forced to share collapsing pit toilets. Teachers have even surrendered one of their own toilets for Grade R learners, after a child narrowly avoided falling into a crumbling pit. This is not just neglect, it is an insult to the dignity, safety, and rights of our children. In April, the UDM, now a proud participant in the Government of National Unity, expressed deep disappointment when this administration missed its own pit latrine eradication deadline. Our role in government does not silence us. On the contrary, it strengthens our responsibility to highlight failures and demand urgent corrective action. A missed target in this case is not a small bureaucratic slip; it is the extension of a public health crisis that continues to endanger children. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube claimed that 93 percent of pit toilets had been eradicated, but civil society groups such as SECTION27 raised serious concerns that this progress was being measured against an outdated 2018 audit, and that many schools with dangerous pit toilets had simply been overlooked. The situation at Jongikhaya proves that our warnings were not alarmist, they were accurate. Learners here continue to risk their lives daily because of collapsing toilets, while parents now tell their children to use the bushes instead, trading one unsafe environment for another. The Eastern Cape Department of Education has reportedly admitted that Jongikhaya is not even on the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) programme, despite years of pleas from the school. This is a betrayal of the community and of the constitutional rights of learners. This crisis is not only about one school. It is the result of decades of poor planning, missed targets, and billions of rands underspent or misallocated, while rural schools continue to be treated as second-class. The GNU cannot repeat the mistakes of past administrations. We must be honest with the public: unless we act decisively, learners will continue to pay the price for government neglect. The UDM therefore calls on Minister Gwarube to: 1. Prioritise Jongikhaya JSS for emergency sanitation upgrades before a tragedy occurs. 2. Conduct a new, transparent national audit of all schools still using pit latrines, and make the results public. 3. Publish a clear, time-bound implementation plan to eradicate all pit toilets, with no further extensions. 4. Ringfence funds transparently for rural school infrastructure, with community oversight to prevent underspending and corruption. 5. Work with civil society and the private sector to accelerate safe sanitation projects. South Africa cannot afford another empty promise. The dignity and safety of our children must come first. Jongikhaya is not just another case, it is living proof that government’s failure to deliver on its own deadlines has left our children in danger. The UDM will continue to raise its voice within the GNU and outside of it, ensuring that the safety, dignity, and future of learners are placed above political convenience. We will not rest until every learner in South Africa has access to safe and dignified school infrastructure. Note: When Cllr Zigebe served as the Secretary General of the UDM, he championed the eradication of pit latrines as a matter of human rights and learner dignity. His presentation to Parliament in November 2023, alongside the Nguvu Collective, cemented his role as a leading voice on this issue. Today, even in his capacity as councillor, he continues to act as a spokesperson for the thousands of learners still forced to endure unsafe and undignified sanitation conditions, ensuring that this campaign remains alive in both Parliament and the public domain.
