Bela Bill: AfriForum heads to the Union Buildings

AfriForum will have a picket at the Union Building this morning.

According to the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), the purpose of the picket is that AfriForum wants the National Council of Provinces to revise the Basic Education Laws Amendments Bill (Bela) and allow school governing bodies (SGB) to determine and authorise language policies in their designated schools.

“They are expected to expected to disperse from the Union Buildings at 11:00.”

TMPD and police officers will be deployed to monitor the picket.

SA News reported the Bela Bill was adopted by the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education in September.

“Committee chairperson Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said this brings the bill, which has been more than 20 years in the making, in line with continuing the transformation agenda of the basic education sector,” the article states.

It adds that, in terms of language policy, the amendment states the governing body must submit the language policy of a public school and any amendment thereof to the head of department for approval.

“The language policy must also take into consideration the language needs of the broader community.”

In another article, published by SA News in October, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the bill does not want to ‘take away the powers of the SGBs’.

“The fact that language and admission policies were solely determined and adjudicated by SGBs with veto powers without checks and balances led to the abuse of such powers when some schools excluded learners in those schools using discriminatory practices such as admitting learners according to race, ability of parents to pay school fees, academic performance and sporting abilities,” the minister said.