The Democratic Alliance, Afriforum, Solidarity, Freedom Front Plus, and other stakeholders protested earlier today against the Bela Act at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria. 

The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill is legislation in South Africa that aims to update and amend existing laws governing basic education, primarily the South African Schools Act of 1996 and the Employment of Educators Act of 1998. 

The BELA Bill has officially become law in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the bill on September 13, 2024. 

The DA says, “This Act takes away the right of school governing bodies to make important decisions about language and admission.” The DA adds that every learner in South Africa must be able to receive education in their mother tongue. 

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said, “The doors of learning and culture shall be opened for all. We are not intimidated by your selfish interests. All our children, regardless of race or language, can learn together at the same school to build a truly non-racial South Africa. What’s wrong with having our children learn together? 

One of the X users on social media responding to the post made by the DA says, “The BELA BILL doesn’t mention eliminating the Afrikaans language in high schools; I did IsiZulu, English, and Afrikaans. Learners can still be taught in their mother tongue in the same school as learners of different races.” The X user adds we abolished segregation laws in South Africa 30 years ago, and we cannot allow it to happen again, not under our watchful eye.

Clauses 4 and 5 of the bill were halted by President Cyril Ramaphosa until he meets with organisations to discuss the implication of clauses 4 and 5 of the bill.