Mediation about BELA to start tomorrow between Solidarity, the DBE and the Presidency

17 October 2024 

A mediation process between Solidarity, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Presidency will start tomorrow, (Friday 18 October) at the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) in a bid to resolve the dispute over the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA).

This mediation process comes after Solidarity served a section 77 notice on Nedlac for its members to be protected when they participate in the protest march against BELA in Pretoria on 5 November. According to the Labour Relations Act, in considering such an application Nedlac must first attempt to resolve such a dispute.

“We are entering the mediation with an open mind. We have a very strong case and will state our case loud and clear. The government deals recklessly with schools in general and particularly so with Afrikaans schools,” Dr Dirk Hermann Solidarity chief executive said.

Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa signed the BELA Amendment Bill into law on 13 September this year, but sections 5 and 6, dealing with schools’ language and admission policies, have been put on hold for the time being for three months of talks on their implementation.

Meanwhile, the Solidarity Movement, including Solidarity and AfriForum, is continuing its talks about BELA with political parties.

According to Hermann, the sparks will fly in the next two months.

“It is imperative that we continue to exert pressure on the process. The march on 5 November is one part of this pressure. If no settlement is reached after the Nedlac mediation, Nedlac must issue a certificate which will mean that Solidarity members may participate in the march without employers being allowed to take action against them,” Hermann said.

However, Solidarity says the 5 November march will continue regardless of the outcome of the Nedlac process. Institutions belonging to the Solidarity Movement, other Afrikaans organisations, educational organisations, parents and traditional communities will participate in the march.

Follow this link #belaprotes to also register for the march.

Date: 5 November
Time: Participants will convene from 08:00 for the start of the march at 09:00
Venue: The Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria

Issued by Anton van der Bijl, Deputy Chief Executive, Solidarity, 17 October 2024