Challenges Threatening South Africa's 30-Year Democracy Milestone

Seth Mazibuko arrives at the intersection of Moema and Vilakazi Street in Soweto. He points to the spot that holds great historical significance.

"This is where the students, who were peacefully marching, first faced the police," he explains.

On June 16, 1976, Mazibuko celebrated his 16th birthday. The next day, he joined tens of thousands of young students in the township to protest against the unfair education system of apartheid.

For many years, apartheid subjected the non-white population to various injustices. One of the most heartbreaking consequences was the inferior education provided to Black South Africans, which further entrenched segregation in society.

But few could have predicted the state violence that followed.

A picture dated August 1976 in Soweto shows buildings burning during a Black students' protest against having to use the Afrikaans language at school.

A picture dated August 1976 in Soweto shows buildings burning during a Black students' protest against having to use the Afrikaans language at school.

Mike Mizleni/AFP/Getty Images

Mazibuko and other student leaders were pushed over the edge by the decision to switch to Afrikaans as the language of instruction. This was a language that few of them understood, and it was associated with the oppressors.

Reflecting on the tragic events, Mazibuko expresses his remorse for leading students and children out of the classroom, only to be met with violence. He still carries the weight of guilt for the lives lost during those tumultuous times.

Hundreds of students were killed, scores of student leaders, like Mazibuko, were sent to prison, and many more went into exile.

Cars are used as roadblocks on June 21, 1976, during unrest in Soweto, South Africa, stemming from protests against the use of Afrikaans in schools.

Cars are used as roadblocks on June 21, 1976, during unrest in Soweto, South Africa, stemming from protests against the use of Afrikaans in schools.

Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Soweto uprisings, which are now famously known, had a significant impact on the anti-apartheid movement, leading South Africa towards liberation.

However, as South Africans mark 30 years of democracy this week, numerous educators and activists are concerned about a crisis within the country's education system. This crisis poses a threat to the hard-won gains of democracy.

“They sold out. Many of the leaders that were supposed to be leading have left this community. They left the people they were fighting for,” says Mazibuko.

Dropping standards

Just down the street from the well-known crossroads, Prince Mulwela is giving a geography lesson to senior students at Morris Isaacson High School. The classroom is dimly lit on this foggy autumn day.

Although the school is renowned for its involvement in the Soweto uprisings, Mulwela is more concerned about the current challenges. In his 18 years of teaching at the school, he has noticed that educating the students has become increasingly challenging.

Teacher Prince Mulwela says the education system in South Africa has become politicized.

Teacher Prince Mulwela says the education system in South Africa has become politicized.

He mentions that teaching is getting more challenging as students are presenting more issues. He also notes that in the last ten years, high school students have been arriving with less readiness for learning.

The statistics do make sobering reading.

Residents of the township of Soweto, South Africa, queue for water Saturday, March 16, 2024. Thousands of South Africans are lining up for water as the country's largest city, Johannesburg, confronts an unprecedented collapse of its water system affecting millions of people. Residents rich and poor have never seen a shortage of this severity. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents in Soweto, South Africa, are waiting in line for water on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The city of Johannesburg is facing a major water crisis, leading to thousands of people queuing up for water. This situation is affecting millions of residents, both rich and poor, in a way they have never experienced before. (Photo credit: Jerome Delay/AP)

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Despite receiving a good amount of funding for education, South African students often perform poorly in global assessments measuring reading and math skills.

In a recent assessment of fourth graders from 50 different countries, South African students were ranked at the bottom. Shockingly, over 80% of 9- to-10-year-olds in South Africa struggle to read with comprehension.

In a recent CNN interview, Angie Motshekga, the Minister of Basic Education for a long time, raised concerns about the relevance of international benchmarks. She mentioned that it is unfair to compare South Africa to affluent countries like Canada.

Contrary to Minister Motshekga's statement, a study revealed that South African sixth-graders perform significantly poorer in math compared to students in Kenya, a country with much lower economic status.

Motshekga believes that more attention should be given to early childhood education and teaching in the learner's native language. This is a key aspect of an education bill that the government is aiming to pass into law. South Africa has eleven official languages.

Motshekga, who was raised in Soweto, expresses optimism about the progress made, stating, "I'm very encouraged. I think from where we started off, I don’t think we could have done better."

A challenging past

Motshekga shares a personal story to highlight the difficulties faced by the country. In the 1970s, she recalls being the only one on her street to receive a quality education.

Her mother and grandmother, both teachers, managed to navigate the apartheid system and enroll her in a Catholic school to complete her high school education. Unfortunately, this was not the case for many others in her generation, leading to high rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and poverty.

When Nelson Mandela took office as president 30 years ago, his African National Congress (ANC) party was tasked with addressing the significant issues in the education system.

Nelson Mandela, leader of the ANC, is seen with a big smile on his face on 27 April 1994 in Oshlange, a Black township near Durban. He is casting his historic vote during South Africa's first democratic and all-race general elections.

The apartheid education system was a complicated and racist system that needed to be changed. There was a shortage of qualified teachers and not enough classrooms available.

Now, according to government statistics, over 98% of children between the ages of seven and 14 are attending school. The president has commended students for achieving a high pass rate in their final school leaving exams, also known as Matric. However, education experts point out that this praise overlooks the declining educational standards and the issue of high dropout rates.

Ann Bernstein, the executive director of the Centre of Development and Enterprise, an independent think tank, points out that during the festival around the Matric results, many individuals tend to exaggerate their achievements, claiming to have done better than they actually have.

A view shows a crime scene after at least 18 cash-in-transit robbers were shot and killed during a shootout with a specialised airborne police unit in Makhado, Limpopo, South Africa September 1, 2023. South African Police Service/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE

After a shootout with a specialized airborne police unit in Makhado, Limpopo, South Africa on September 1, 2023, a view of the crime scene shows that at least 18 cash-in-transit robbers were shot and killed. The image was provided by the South African Police Service.

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Motshekga denied any claims of dropping standards and highlighted the progress shown in the results.

According to Bernstein, although South Africa has made significant strides in education, these advancements have regressed in recent years due to issues such as corruption, politics, and a lack of political determination.

A powerful teachers' union has been accused of promoting a "jobs for cash" scheme for teacher placement. Opposition parties and groups like Corruption Watch believe that more needs to be done to address corruption in the education system.

In response to the recent accusation regarding job placements, the South African Democratic Teachers Union stated last month that it "will never support or accept criminal activities in education. Selling positions is a form of corruption."

Bernstein believes that the minister should step down. At Morris Isaacson, educators like Mulwela see a clear issue. Mulwela points out that education, along with many other areas of the government, has been influenced by a culture of favoritism.

He mentions that individuals who are loyal to the ANC, especially cadres, are receiving employment opportunities in the education sector. He believes that the government should prioritize hiring individuals who are qualified for these positions.

The ANC Secretary General recently acknowledged that cadre development could potentially be misused, but emphasized its significance for bringing about transformation.

An uncertain future

Many of Mulwela’s students are proud of their school and aware of its role in the protests of 1976.

“They put their lives in danger for a better future, for a better education,” says Mbali Msimanga, a student in her final year.

But she says her generation still faces an uncertain future.

South Africa holds the highest unemployment rate globally, making it tough for university graduates to find jobs.

Msimanga expresses concern, stating, "It's daunting to be unemployed and idle at home."

“Especially when you went to university for so long and you have a degree, but you are still struggling to get a job,” her classmate, Atlegang Alcock, agrees.

Students Atlegang Alcock (left) and Mbali Msimanga (right) are proud of their school’s history in the Soweto youth uprising.

Students Atlegang Alcock (left) and Mbali Msimanga (right) are proud of their school’s history in the Soweto youth uprising.

CNN

The sacrifices made by previous generations were huge.

Mazibuko endured 11 months in solitary confinement at Fort Prison in Johannesburg, then spent seven years in Robben Island prison near Cape Town - where Mandela also served a long sentence - for advocating for a fair education system. He feels that the next generation has not yet reaped the benefits of their efforts.

"When we marched and did those things, we believed that the tree of liberation would grow stronger through the sacrifices of the martyrs," he explains. "But these children are not even benefiting from the freedom we fought for. As a result, I fear that our nation and its leaders will face consequences for this."

In the upcoming election in South Africa, the sentiment of unfulfilled promises after 30 years of ANC rule may be challenged.

Editor's P/S:

The article delves into the complexities of the South African education system, highlighting its troubled past and present challenges. The Soweto Uprisings of 1976, a pivotal moment in the anti-apartheid movement, serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by students and activists in the pursuit of educational justice. However, the current state of the education system casts a shadow over the hard-fought gains of democracy.

Despite significant funding, South African students continue to lag behind in global assessments, raising concerns about the quality of education and the relevance of international benchmarks. The article exposes the politicization of the education system, with favoritism and corruption undermining the hiring process and the appointment of qualified teachers. The result is a decline in educational standards, high dropout rates, and an uncertain future for young people who face high unemployment rates despite their degrees. The article leaves readers with a sense of urgency and calls for a renewed commitment to educational equity, accountability, and the fulfillment of the promises made to those who fought for a better future.