The Minister of Basic Education said that while more than R600,000 children across South Africa did not have identification numbers, it did not mean they were undocumented. 

Siviwe Gwarube was responding to a question posed by Democratic Alliance MP Adrian Roos, who inquired about the total number of learners in the system and how many are undocumented but of South African origin.

She said the Learner Unit Record Information and Tracking System (LURITS) for the 2025 academic year revealed that 673,240 learners were without identification numbers, adding that while these learners lack ID numbers, this does not necessarily mean they are undocumented.

This comes against the backdrop of ongoing debates around the issue of foreign children, particularly those without legal documentation, from enrolling in public schools in South Africa.

The issue of foreign nationals in the country, especially undocumented migrants, has been contentious for some time, with protests breaking out at schools such as Addington Primary in Durban.

Protesters, including members of the March and March movement and Operation Dudula, have argued that foreign learners, particularly those born to foreign parents, are being prioritised over South African children, adding further tension to the debate.

Another critical concern raised in this context is the overcrowding in schools. Protesters claim that overcrowded classrooms are putting South African learners at a disadvantage, with some arguing that there is insufficient space for local children.

Gwarube said the total number of learners registered on LURITS for 2025 was 13,596,869, but the number of learners without ID numbers varied considerably across provinces.

Breaking down the statistics by province, Gauteng had the highest number of learners without IDs.

Of 2,684,785 learners in the province, 198,534 did not have identification numbers.

This was followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 126,382 of 2,904,341 lacking IDs.

The Eastern Cape, with 1,784,691 learners, saw 78,311 learners without identification numbers.

The Western Cape had the fewest number of pupils without IDs.

Of 1,286,164 learners, a total of 49,936 learners lacked ID numbers.

“The absence of an ID number in LURITS does not necessarily mean that a learner is undocumented,” Gwarube said.

She pointed out that the issue is often due to “delays in the issuing of birth certificates or identity documents, incomplete or outstanding documentation at the point of admission, or administrative data-capture gaps at the school or district level.”

Additionally, she highlighted that some learners are in the process of being registered with the Department of Home Affairs.

Gwarube further emphasised that the DBE uses alternative unique identifiers to ensure that learners continue their education without interruption.

“Learners without ID numbers are captured in the system using alternative unique identifiers to ensure continuity of schooling and to prevent exclusion from learning, assessment, and progression processes,” she said.

Despite the challenges posed by these documentation gaps, Gwarube assured the public that no learner will be denied access to education.

“The DBE continues to work with Provincial Education Departments and the Department of Home Affairs to improve the alignment of education and civil registration systems, strengthen data quality on LURITS, and support families in regularising learner documentation,” she added.

Gwarube also reaffirmed that every child in South Africa has the right to basic education, regardless of their documentation status.

“In line with section 29(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, every child in South Africa has the right to basic education,” the minister said.

She also referred to Section 5(1A) of the South African Schools Act, which was amended in 2024, noting that “learners may not be denied access to schooling due to the non-submission of required documentation.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za 

IOL Politics 

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