Bela Act In Its Current Form Is Targetting Afrikaans Schools

The Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria has been painted orange as scores of members of lobby group AfriForum and trade union Solidarity gathered ahead of their march against the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act BELA.

AfriForum and Solidarity say two clauses of the Act take away the right of school governing bodies to make important decisions about admissions and language.

Afriforums Kallie Kriel says the Act in its current form is targetting Afrikaans schools.

Kriel says, Because the BELA Act is targetting Afrikaans schools specifically and therefore its targetting our children, and it also does not create space for mother tongue education for all."

"That is why we have to send out a clear message, especially from the Afrikaans community. We do not have traditional areas where our culture can thrive. Schools play a central role in our cultural survival. So this is not just a fight against the Act, its a fight for cultural survival," he adds.