AfriForum ‘ready’ to head to court as soon as BELA Bill signed into law

The controversial bill was passed by Parliament in 2023 despite objections from opposition parties and civil society movements.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to sign the controversial BELA Bill into law on Friday.

The BELA Bill proposes several changes to the South African Schools Act, including transferring control to the Education Department to determine a school's language policies and curriculums.

It also dictates that Grade R will now be the new compulsory school-starting age. Some of the amendments include penalties for those found guilty of corporal punishment.

The bill also provides that Sign Language has the status of an official language for purposes of learning at a public school.

"AfriForum views the BELA Bill as an attempt at cultural ethnic cleansing by the ANC government, as the implementation of the bill will enable the destruction of a linguistic and cultural community’s schools, thereby jeopardising the group’s cultural existence,” AfriForum’s Alana Bailey said.

"AfriForum’s legal team is ready to take steps against its implementation as soon as the Bill is signed.”

Meanwhile, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has called on Ramaphosa to refer the bill back to the National Assembly due to objections relating to its constitutionality.

ACDP chief whip Steve Swart said the changes to Grade R will affect Early Childhood Development entrepreneurs.

"In addition to objections to the inclusion of Grade R in primary schools, which will have a negative impact on ECD entrepreneurs, the majority of whom are previously disadvantaged women residing in townships. 

"Treasury indicated that the estimated R16 billion needed to implement the bill, to fund the expansion of Grade R at more than 7 800 schools, was an ‘unfunded mandate’. Funds are not available for this purpose," Swart said.

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