UDM disturbed by ill-considered McDonald's foldable desks for Grade 1 learners
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is deeply concerned about the ill-conceived donation of foldable school desks, handed over by the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, in partnership with McDonald's and MiDesk Global. These desks were given to St. Paul's Primary School in Cape Town's Bo Kaap, in the Western Cape.
It is unacceptable that, in 2025, our children are being used as walking advertisements for corporate branding instead of being provided with fully equipped classrooms that uphold their dignity.
South African parents and educators have justifiably expressed their outrage over this situation.
Rather than ensuring every child has a proper desk in the classroom, the department is celebrating a donation that shifts the responsibility from the government onto the backs of young children - literally!
These desks are highly impractical, especially given the long distances and challenging roads many children must traverse to get to school. Adding this extra burden is absurd. To make matters worse, it is highly likely that the average child carrying the McDonald's foldable desk won’t even be able to afford a McDonald's Kiddies Meal in the first place!
This situation is a national embarrassment for which Minister Gwarube must take full responsibility.
We call on the Government of National Unity to ensure that every child, especially the poorest of the poor, has a desk to sit at when they are at school.
Let us hope this is a one-time failed experiment that is not repeated elsewhere in the country.
