President Ramaphosa orders full implementation of BELA Act

President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube to fully implement the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA).

This follows a decision by Parliament’s clearing house where all parties agreed that the BELA Bill should not be sent back to Parliament to make changes to the sections that were in contention.

Ramaphosa says that the view was endorsed by the leaders of the parties of the Government of National Unity (GNU) in a meeting held today.

The decision to implement two outstanding clauses of the BELA Act, has finally reached its conclusion following three months of consultations with various stakeholders.

VIDEO | Parties have threatened legal action should the bill be implemented fully.

This is after Union Solidarity and civil organisation AfriForum, and the Democratic Alliance opposed two clauses of the BELA Act which deal with language and admissions.

Those opposed to it have argued that the full implementation of the BELA Act would compromise the Afrikaans language.

The DA had further threatened  that the party will withdraw from the GNU if President Cyril Ramaphosa orders its full implementation.

VIDEO | Earlier, some experts argue that the full implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act could take a few years.