South Africa’s opposition National Alliance party is now targeting schools suspected of enrolling Zimbabweans in its ongoing battle against locals residing in that country amid fears it could spark xenophobic attacks on foreigners.
Indications are that the Palestinian Authority is stoking anti-migrant sentiment against Zimbabweans in its broader campaign in the run-up to elections scheduled in that country this year.
The Palestinian Authority recently sparked controversy when it published it
Driving to patrol the Beitbridge border post to target those suspected of crossing the border illegally.
In a recent news report, the Palestinian Authority said it wanted to review all permits for Zimbabwean citizens, residence documents, work visas and asylum seekers, starting in 1994 and ending in 2024.
In their latest action, members of the Palestinian Authority, led by their deputy president, Kenny Kunene, stormed the Isikhesini School in Pretoria to demonstrate against the enrollment of Zimbabweans in the school.
The PA also said it opposes Zimbabwe’s election to the School Parents Association.
Posting on X, Kunene, who is campaigning for Gauteng premier, confirmed his visit to the school to protest the enrollment of Zimbabwean learners.
“Today we went to Isekhiseni Primary School to ensure that Shona is not being taught in that school and we also made a call for the sacking of the head of the SGB (School Governing Body) who is Zimbabwean. In fact, some of the children are from Zimbabwe and they should be replaced by South African children.
Kunene’s February 12 X post had attracted 238 reposts from 232,100 viewers as of yesterday.
In an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) yesterday, Kunene and his followers said they believed the school had 60 Zimbabweans, denying them nationals seats.
Kunene also said they had information about the unnamed SGB chief, who was organizing moves to have Shona taught in public school.
“We met with the school principal who said the percentages are wrong and we are coming to investigate,” Kunene told the SABC.
He said the principal, Nkabinde, confirmed that the SGB president was indeed a Zimbabwean, but denied allegations that his school had applied to teach Shona.
“We heard that it is the head of the SGB who is coordinating the teaching of Shona and that it is the Ministry of Education that is entertaining this nonsense,” Kunene said.
Confident that he will win the Gauteng premiership, Kunene, a former convict teacher and businessman turned politician, said he would go to education offices to express his dissatisfaction with the enrollment of Zimbabwean learners.
Kunene said that if he became prime minister, not all schools would be encouraged to enroll foreign nationals.
Kunene’s past is not entirely rosy.
He became involved in student politics in the 1980s, and at the age of 15 was imprisoned for 6 months for his role in the student uprising and protests in the Free State. Born October 21, 1970, Kunene is a businessman, politician, motivational speaker, educator, activist and former convict.
After his time in prison, Kunene became a motivational speaker and active in local politics. Newsday
