Gauteng Education and AfriForum square off over Afrikaans

The parties agreed to the public display after a ground breaking Constitutional Court ruling last month.

The Concourt ruling, giving government the go ahead to declare new feeder zones when it comes to admissions, was hailed as a victory for the department.

Lesufi said the debate was necessary to clear up existing issues and the wrong perception that Afrikaans schools were being targeted.

Addressing a small audience in Tembisa, Lesufi argued that quality education was not the sole reserve of Afrikaans schools.

"We want equal education for all. We want to build non-racial education for South Africans. We want to open all our resources to all children of this country," Lesufi said.

WATCH: Some of the points raised during the debate

Kriel said the department should focus on the great number of dysfunctional schools in the province and the damage that was being done by teachers' union Sadtu.

"I've heard of many instances where teachers don't pitch up for class, they are not doing their work properly and then they are protected by Sadtu," Kriel said.

MEC Lesufi hit back saying functionality was being addressed, but that the transformation of school spaces would remain a top priority.

"Is it bad to say Hoërskool Waterkloof, you are just 5 kilometre from Mamelodi High. Mamelodi High does not have a sports field. You have a huge land there. Is it wrong for Mamelodi High students to come and play soccer at Hoërskool Waterkloof? What's wrong about that?" Lesufi asked.

Lesufi urged dialogue instead of people acting out in fear, saying Afrikaans schools were not under threat and would not be done away with.

"Don't exclude yourself from a popular movement called non-racialism. The first fear you have is mother tongue language and I can tell you without flinching that Afrikaans will exist until all of us leave this world," Lesufi said.