BELA: AfriForum submits comments for next round of public hearings, calls on public also to participate

23 November 2023

The next round of public hearings on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (also known as the BELA Bill) is currently underway in Mpumalanga. Short and limited notice has been given regarding this process. AfriForum has just submitted written comments to Mpumalanga’s legislature and will also attend the public hearings in the province whenever possible.

This process follows after the bill was approved by the National Assembly on 26 October this year and referred to the National Council of Provinces. Judging by Mpumalanga’s appeal to the public to make submissions, the provinces have decided to undertake another round of public consultation before approving or rejecting the bill.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s head of Cultural Affairs, previous consultation sessions had been well supported and an overwhelming number of those present emphasised that the bill includes articles that pose a serious threat to the future of quality education in general and Afrikaans mother-language education in particular. It will also bring an end to communities’ and parents’ final decision-making powers regarding their children’s education. The bill inter alia proposes that the final decision on schools’ admission and language policies should be centralised in the hands of the provincial heads of education. Currently this power is held by the democratically elected governing bodies of schools, and not the state. Moreover, provincial heads of education are political appointments with ideological agendas.

“Communities have a right to decide on access to and the language of tuition used in their schools. Mother-language education is essential for the best learning outcomes. Governing bodies also spend millions of rands annually to create extra posts in schools to ensure that children do not end up in overcrowded classrooms. If the current version of the bill is passed, parents will lose these final decision-making powers and children will be even more at the mercy of the political power games and administrative mismanagement of the state. AfriForum therefore calls on everyone who has an interest in our children’s future to participate in this public consultation process, even if they may already have made oral or written submissions on previous occasions,” Bailey said.

The public hearings in Mpumalanga are scheduled as follows:

23 November 2023: Mmametlhake Community Hall, Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality (10:00-13:00)

29 November 2023: Vukuzakhe Community Hall, Pixley Ka Seme Local Municipality (10:00-13:00)

30 November 2023: Jepees Reef Community Hall, Nkomazi Local Municipality (10:00-13:00)

Written submissions on the bill can be sent to [email protected] before or on 31 January 2024.

Issued by Alana Bailey, Head: Cultural Affairs, AfriForum, 23 November 2023