African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says that the proclamation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act marks a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of South Africa’s education system.

Mbalula was briefing the media at the party’s headquarters in Johannesburg, Gauteng today.

His comments come after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive on Friday that the BELA Act must be implemented in its entirety, following two contested clauses that deal with admissions and language.

Mbalula has described the implementation of the BELA Act as a victory for constitutional values.

“The full BELA Act enrols a new era of inclusivity addressing historical inequalities and affirming the rights of all learners to quality education. Majors such as universal access to grade, the elimination of corporal punishment, centralised admissions and equitable language policies dismantled remnants of apartheid era practices. This is a victory for constitutional values.”

BELA Act | Ramaphosa signs Presidential Proclamation for Act’s full and immediate implementation:

The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) has joined those who have welcomed President Ramaphosa’s authorisation of the full implementation of the Act.

Ramaphosa signed the Bill into law in September this year, but delayed its full implementation by three months, to allow parties in the government of national unity (GNU) to discuss the contested sections.

PanSALB CEO Lance Schultz says they will work with the Basic Education Department and other stakeholders to address issues related to language rights.

“The Pan South African Language Board welcomes the announcement of the outstanding clauses of the BELA Act specifically 4 and 5. Importantly, this, read in conjunction with the South African Schools Act, we believe is a step in the right direction to foster true multilingualism in our society and 30 years into the advent of our democracy.”

Meanwhile, education expert Professor Mary Metcalfe has described the implementation of the BELA Act in its entirety as transformative, adding that the narrative being peddled in public that the language policy clause is detrimental to Afrikaans, is wrong.

“Part of the transformation which has received so much public debate, and so much misinformation, is the question of the relative powers of school governing bodies – and the state – in relation to admission to public schools. This is not private schools – it’s public schools. And the one important area of disinformation is that the constitution is explicit that all learners have the right to be taught in their language of choice – so the public narrative that this is somehow going to do away with Afrikaans, is completely wrong.

BELA Act | Benefits and costs of full implementation of all clauses of the act: Prof Mary Metcalfe