Overwhelming support against BELA Act: AfriForum’s petition grows with more than 100 000 signatories in 24 hours

18 September 2024 

AfriForum’s Stop BELA petition (www.stopbela.co.za) against the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act 32 of 2024 grew by more than 100 000 signatures within the last 24 hours to pass the 150 000 mark early this morning. It is expected that the signatories will soon exceed 200 000.

At one stage, the traffic to the website was so heavy on Tuesday evening that AfriForum had to make additional capacity available for its internet servers in order to cope with the tremendous influx of supporters.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, it is clear that the public is seriously opposed to the Act’s attack on Afrikaans schools and children, and therefore the Afrikaans community itself.

After AfriForum and Solidarity were in talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa, a tactical breakthrough was achieved in the opposition to the Act when Ramaphosa announced during the signing thereof on Friday (13 September 2024) that the contentious Articles 4 and 5 of it, which relate to schools’ admission and language policies, will not be implemented immediately. He stated that these articles will be open for discussion for a further period of three months.

“The President’s calls to AfriForum and Solidarity, as well as the opportunity for further discussion of the two articles, serve as proof that public pressure can achieve success,” says Bailey.

“Every signatory is therefore helping AfriForum to strengthen its negotiating position even more. AfriForum, therefore, calls on all who have not signed the petition yet to show their opposition to the BELA Act by adding their names to the petition at www.stopbela.co.za.”

Issued by Alana Bailey, Head: Cultural Affairs, AfriForum, 18 September 2024