Undocumented students in South Africa face an uncertain future despite years of schooling - with some unable to obtain certificates or pursue further education because they lack official documents - as anti-migrant tensions fuel debate over foreigners' access to public services.
Footage filmed on Thursday shows students arriving at Johannesburg's Winnie Mandela Secondary School, gathering in the schoolyard before heading into classrooms.
The Principal Eddie Kekhana explained.
"After matriculating, they can't get certificates. Some of these learners have been born here. Their birth is normally registered at the hospital, but they can't get birth certificates because their parents are undocumented."
Kekhana warned the uncertainty can have severe consequences, recounting the case of a learner who nearly took her own life.
"She felt helpless and hopeless and thought, 'What is the reason for me to live? I've been attending school from Grade 1 up to Grade 12, but when I have to exit and prove my potential, I'm not recognised.' It's a problem."
A Mozambican parent who has lived in South Africa for nearly 25 years, described the same uncertainty facing her children.
"My kids are in school here. We don't have documentation. Our children feel very bad because they attend school here, they pass their years, but they don't have documents,"
South African Democratic Teachers' Union spokesperson Nomusa Celebi called on authorities to address the problem.
"Every child should have access to education. However, I would like to see the government also not only emphasising the right, but also making sure that everything is done to ensure that that right is accessed effectively,"
South Africa has seen recurring anti-migrant campaigns, including efforts to restrict foreign nationals' access to schools and healthcare.
In November 2025, the Johannesburg High Court barred anti-migrant group Operation Dudula from intimidating learners and parents or blocking foreign nationals' access to education and healthcare, affirming all children's right to basic education regardless of immigration status.