Herman Mashaba, the leader of ActionSA, an opposition political party in South Africa, has condemned the government’s directive to allow children of undocumented foreigners, including Zimbabweans, to attend schools in the country.
According to a memo issued by South Africa’s Department of Basic Education (DBE), for the 2025 academic year, schools must admit all learners, regardless of their documentation status.
This includes students who fail to provide identification for the country’s matric years and undocumented foreign pupils.
Speaking on South Africa’s national broadcaster SABC, Mashaba said that if he were in authority, he would not allow any undocumented person or learner to benefit from South Africa’s already strained resources. Said Mashaba (<a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/flush-out-illegal-zimbabwean-immigrants-children-from-our-schools-says-mashaba-alleges-they-overstretch-resources-in-south-africas-education-sector/">via NewZimbabwe.com</a>):
<blockquote>
South Africa now seems to be a country where you do not need passports or VISAs, they just have to walk through our porous borders. Our sovereignty is not there anymore…
I do not understand the logic behind this. The people who made this decision want to make sure that South Africans are as poor as possible.
We know our neighbouring countries are dysfunctional as a result of South Africa also not assisting but we are making matters worse.
I am not sure who they are trying to satisfy. If I had my way, there was no way we would allow anyone without documentation in our country.
Allowing them to use services when we cannot afford them for our own people (does not make sense). You even find in some schools children numbering 90 in a class.
</blockquote>
A significant number of Zimbabweans, potentially in the millions, are living and working in South Africa without legal documentation.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Herman Mashaba from ActionSA in South Africa wants to kick out Zimbabwean children from school if they don't have proper papers. The government said all kids, even if they are undocumented, can go to school starting in 2025. Mashaba thinks this is wrong because it takes resources away from South African kids. He believes the country is allowing too many people without papers to live there. Many Zimbabweans are in South Africa without the right papers. Mashaba thinks this will make South Africans poorer and their schools overcrowded.

Mashaba Demands Expulsion Of Undocumented Zimbabwean Children From South African Schools

Herman Mashaba, the leader of ActionSA, has expressed his concern over the state of the Beitbridge Border Post, which connects South Africa and Zimbabwe. After visiting the border, Mashaba described it as dysfunctional and highlighted the challenging conditions faced by law enforcement and border management personnel, according to <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/porous-beitbridge-border-could-be-fixed-if-there-was-political-will-says-actionsa-2c54b96c-ff91-4fa8-a951-17a8c439620e#:~:text=News-,Porous%20Beitbridge%20Border%20could%20be%20fixed,was%20political%20will%2C%20says%20ActionSA&amp;text=ActionSA%20leader%20Herman%20Mashaba%20has,neighbour%2C%20Zimbabwe%2C%20on%20Monday.">The Star</a>. He criticised the lack of political will to address the issue of porous borders in South Africa.
During his visit, Mashaba witnessed inefficiencies and corruption allegations at the border post, despite recent upgrades. He also noted the presence of gaps in the border fencing, which allowed for illegal border crossings and the smuggling of goods and drugs into local communities. Mashaba said:
<blockquote>
The dysfunctional state of the Beitbridge Border Post between South Africa and Zimbabwe, where the Border Management Authority (BMA) was hastily launched without receiving adequate funding or the transfer of relevant personnel, is emblematic of the lack of political will to tackle porous borders in South Africa.
This morning (yesterday) when I visited the Beitbridge Border Post, alongside ActionSA Limpopo premier candidate Kgoshi Letsiri Phaahla, I saw first-hand the dysfunctional state of the facility which, despite having recently been upgraded, is still plagued by inefficiencies and corruption allegations. 
  
Only a few metres from the border post are gaping holes in the border fencing which easily allows people to cross the border illegally, and for goods and drugs to be smuggled into our communities.
</blockquote>
Mashaba blamed the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for failing to address the decay in border and immigration management, stating that the poorest South Africans are most affected by the consequences of porous borders. Mashaba said the problems lie with how immigration laws are implemented by state agencies and the failure to secure borders. ActionSA called for comprehensive reforms in the laws and within the Department of Home Affairs. Mashaba suggested streamlining visa and work permit processes, combating corruption, and ensuring the enforcement of the law by all government officials.
He said instead of hastily launching new entities to tackle the ongoing problems, strengthening existing entities, providing training for personnel, and ensuring that all levels of government enforce the law without bias should be prioritised. Mashaba emphasised the need for politicians to be held accountable and not exempt from the rule of law.
South Africa is considered one of the strongest economies, not just in Southern Africa but in the whole of Africa. Many people from neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, and as far as Nigeria come to South Africa in search of jobs and business opportunities. However, some of them do not have the required documents and end up crossing the border illegally at unofficial points. Some officials claim that the large number of migrants entering South Africa has negatively affected the country’s economy. They argue that undocumented migrants compete with locals for resources, leading to tensions.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Action SA Leader Mashaba Concerned Over State Of South African Side Of Beitbridge Border Post

Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba, who has been on record accusing foreigners of fuelling crime in South Africa’s commercial capital, made a U-turn yesterday when he issued a statement condemning planned demonstrations against immigrants.
Part of the statement reads:
<blockquote>Protests against foreign nationals are not a cure for joblessness and crime. I am deeply concerned to hear reports of xenophobic attacks and planned protests, which aim to target foreign nationals residing within communities across Gauteng. I would like to state outright that I condemn xenophobia and my administration will do everything in its power to prevent any outburst of xenophobic violence in our city. There is no place for xenophobia in the City of Johannesburg.</blockquote>
He said that instead of planned xenophobic marches, the national government should be held to account for its failure to create meaningful and sustainable economic growth for our country and to secure South Africa’s borders. Mashaba recently courted controversy after he lashed out at foreign nationals doing menial jobs in South Africa, accusing them of fuelling the crime rate, particularly in Johannesburg.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/02/23/joburg-mayor-major-u-turn-foreigners/">NewsDay</a>

Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba, makes U-turn on foreigners, condemns planned demos against immigrants

In an interview with The Chronicle, Zimbabwe’s Consular General, Mr Batiraishe Henry Mukonoweshuro said that they have engaged South African authorities over recent xenophobic remarks attributed to Johannesburg mayor Mr Herman Mashaba labelling all foreigners in the neighbouring country criminals and illegal immigrants.
Said Mukonoweshuro:
<blockquote>We have engaged the South African Home Affairs Minister (Malusi) Gigaba over the sentiments by Johannesburg mayor, which sparked an outcry among foreigners. He is alleged to have said that the South African government had opened borders to criminals.</blockquote>
He also said that they have requested a meeting with Mr Mashaba over his remarks and he said he will only arrange the meeting next year. Mashaba, who is a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), at the beginning of the month, stated in his 100 days in office address that illegal immigrants living in Johannesburg must be treated as criminals since they had come to South Africa illegally and that they should leave the city immediately.
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/zim-engages-sa-over-joburg-mayors-reckless-remarks-hate-speech-sparks-outcry/">Chronicle</a>

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