Basic Education committee chair demonstrates why BELA cannot be trusted
10 October 2024
While the FF Plus and many other organisations together with principals and school governing bodies were attending an action summit on the BELA law, the chairperson of the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Basic Education demonstrated in Upington why the law, in its current form, should be opposed at all costs.
The chairperson, Ms Joy Maimela, criticised a school in Upington whose application forms are only available in Afrikaans.
It appears, according to media reports, that the Portfolio Committee visited Duineveld High School in response to a racial incident involving learners of the school which had transpired earlier this year. It is important to note that the FF Plus strongly condemns any racist conduct and believes it should be treated as gross misconduct, which the school did.
According to a report by Network24 on 10 October, Maimela had expressed that she was "shocked" that most of the learners in the school are white, while most people in the area are either black or coloured. She also added that the Afrikaans application form is a means to exclude non-Afrikaans learners.
It seems that Maimela did not benefit much from her visit to Upington when it comes to acquiring first-hand knowledge.
With Afrikaans being the mother tongue of more than 85% of the town's residents, it makes sense that one would not hear anything other than Afrikaans spoken on the streets. Chances are she merely travelled from place to place in a police-escorted vehicle, while not making use of the opportunity to get to know Upington for herself.
If there is any town where single-medium Afrikaans schools is justified, it is Upington.
In addition, she seems to be suffering from an illusion – which is common among the ANC. Namely, that every school must reflect the entire population's demographics. In truth, the only legal requirement is that no-one may be discriminated against based on their race.
In a context with many good schools offering different educational options, each parent has a choice. Once people have made their choice, one cannot turn around and demand that more black or coloured learners should have been selected by a specific school.
It is clear why the ANC is insisting on a schools act that tilts the balance of power in the Department's favour: It is to unilaterally curtail communities' right to uphold their schools under the delusion that Afrikaans schools, making up a mere 5%, could resolve all educational problems if they would only sacrifice their nature.
If the FF Plus could offer Maimela, who is still new in her position as chairperson, a piece of advice, it would be to use oversight visits for listening rather than talking.
This is why the FF Plus is encouraging all its supporters to participate in the protest action against BELA on 5 November at the Union Buildings.
Statement issued by Dr. Wynand Boshoff, FF Plus MP and chief spokesperson: Basic Education, 10 October 2024
