Cape Town – Despite the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act being officially signed into law on Friday, DA federal chairperson Helen Zille has cautioned that its implementation may face delays.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Act into law on September 13 but postponed the implementation of clauses 4 and 5 for three months to facilitate consultations. These clauses pertained to school admission and language policies.
On Friday, the president signed the disputed education law on languages in schools, after reaching an agreement with his initially opposed coalition partner.
Speaking during an interview with SABC News, Zille said that Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube must establish norms and standards, a process expected to take 18 months.
“It takes time to regulate norms and standards and regulations. There’s a legal process that you have to go through that involves public participation.
“So, Siviwe Gwarube will go through the legal process properly, step by step, and will get those norms, standards and regulations in place so that the contentious aspects of that Bill can be implemented within that framework,” said Zille.
The Act has garnered mixed reactions.
While the ANC and Sadtu call for immediate implementation, other parties, including the DA and FF Plus, emphasise a cautious, regulated approach to ensure fair outcomes. T
he Act aims to transform South Africa’s education system into a more inclusive framework, balancing competing interests over language and admission policies.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
