WATCH LIVE: Bela: ‘It’s the angriest the Afrikaans community has been since 1994’

Ten thousand people met at the Voortrekker Monument where they will be joined by prominent politicians.


Members of AfriForum and more than 40 other organisations gathered at the Voortrekker Monument to march and protest march against the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act 32 of 2024 (Bela Act).

Ten thousand demonstraters came together where they were joined by Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, Minister of Sports Gayton McKensie and Minister of Correctional Services Dr Pieter Groenewald to march to Freedom Park and hand over a memorandum of demands and objections against the bill.


Sarie Marais to start of the day

09:53 Before the march, singer Steve Hofmeyr took to the stage singing Sarie Marais.


09:54 Ten thousand people at the Voortrekker Monument


‘Leave our kids alone’

CEO of AfriForum Kallie Kriel said it’s the angriest the Afrikaans community has been since 1994. “Leave out kids alone,” he said. Kriel said the fact that 10 000 people showed up for the march demonstrates people’s sentiments towards the Bela Act.

CEO of AfriForum Kallie Kriel addressed the crowd. Picture: X

‘Protect all our languages’

10:30 Steenhuisen addressed the crowd saying there’s 12 official languages in our country and we need to protect all of them. “We must protect mother tongue education. You don’t have to be Afrikaans to stand up for Afrikaans.”

Groenewald followed Steenhuisen on stage saying,”You must be proud of who you are whether you are Zulu or Xhosa. I am a proud Afrikaner”.

John Steenhuisen Tuesday at the Voortrekker Monument.


10:45 The protestors start their march to Freedom Park


Kriel: ‘This is a historical day’

Kriel, speaking to Solidarity, said it was an historical day. “This is the biggest march by the Afrikaans community since 1994. And there’s a reason for it. It’s because we are the angriest since ’94. Our children are targeted, our schools are targeted.

“Therefore, we fight for survival against the Bela Act. We will go to court if it’s necessary, but today we speak the language of the ANC. The language of protest. With more than 10 000 people here, we send out a very strong message to leave our children alone.”


Protestors to hand over memorandum at Freedom Park

The march started at the Voortrekker Monument and ended at Freedom Park where the protestors will met with the government to hand over a memorandum.

The crowd is now chanting: “Bela is boos, los ons kroos,” which loosely translates to: “Bela is evil. Leave our children alone.”


DA: ‘We are committed to fighting Bela


Freedom Front Plus: ‘Enough is enough’

Freedom Front Plus MP, Wouter Wessels said “enough is enough. We will not let our rights be trampled upon. Our children have the right to mother tongue education.”


Steenhuisen: ‘We’ve heard you and we’ll make sure your voice is heard’

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