Zimbabwean children finally accepted at a South African school

A Zimbabwean mother in Limpopo is overjoyed as her two children are finally accepted at a South African school after years of being denied entry due to a lack of documentation.

A Mother’s Journey and lack of documentation

As reported by Scrolla Africa, Memory Moyo, a 36-year-old mother from Mpheni village near Elim, Limpopo, has lived in South Africa for more than 20 years. However, her children, aged eight and six, have never attended school because they lacked proper documents.

“I am happy, and I cannot describe how I am feeling,” Moyo told Scrolla Africa. “I have finally managed to find a school for my children after being turned away in 2023 and 2024 at several public primary schools in Elim due to not having proper documentation.”

On Monday, a primary school in Elim accepted both children, giving Moyo newfound hope. She said a Zimbabwean friend informed her on Monday that his child gained admission to a particular primary school without any documentation, which prompted her to rush to the same school that day.

The school informed Moyo that while her children would have to start in Grade R despite their ages, there was still space for them.

Preparing for a New Chapter

The school has given Moyo until next week to purchase uniforms and supplies. Employed as a domestic worker in Louis Trichardt, she is doing her best to prepare for her children’s first day of school.

She mentioned that since arriving in South Africa as a teenager with some relatives, she had never returned to Zimbabwe. She felt grateful that her children now had the opportunity to study. It was a chance she missed in Zimbabwe, where she only completed primary school and never advanced to secondary education.

Law and Children without proper documentation

The Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, signed in September 2024, requires schools to admit all children, regardless of documentation. Despite this, many schools still deny undocumented children access.

According to reports in some media outlets, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has criticised the South African government’s decision to permit children of undocumented foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans, to enroll in local schools.

What do you think about children without documentation?

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