South Africa’s opposition party, DA, has moved from resistance to acceptance as controversial education law gains full implementation status. President Cyril Ramaphosa authorized the immediate implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act on Friday, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) notably shifting from strong opposition to expressing satisfaction with the implementation process.
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has been instructed to oversee the Act’s implementation, particularly focusing on universal Grade R access and developing necessary regulations. The Minister must establish national regulations, policies, and standards that will undergo public scrutiny.
The Act’s controversial clauses 4 and 5, which mandate school governing bodies to submit admission and language policies for departmental approval, previously faced strong opposition. The opposition’s federal chairperson Helen Zille had criticized these clauses as “unnecessary” and potentially targeting Afrikaans education.
Their national spokesperson Willie Aucamp praised the development, highlighting Minister Gwarube’s role. “We have full confidence in Minister Gwarube’s ability to introduce fit-for-purpose guidelines that will protect school autonomy from subversion,” Aucamp said.
The implementation follows three months of multi-party discussions after Parliament passed the Act in October 2023. All GNU parties, including the FF-Plus, GOOD, and ANC, have accepted the president’s announcement.
Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi welcomed the move, stating, “This law is a vital piece of legislation that, if implemented properly and with sincerity, will go far in furthering access to basic education for all South Africans, regardless of race, class or locality.”
Key provisions include flexibility in Grade R admission age while prioritizing compulsory attendance age students when capacity is limited. Schools must now submit both admission and language policies to the Head of Department for approval.
Minister Gwarube emphasized that full implementation will only proceed after comprehensive public participation in developing the necessary regulations and standards. “This process takes time,” she noted, highlighting the importance of thorough consultation.
