Bela march continues despite Freedom Park refusing entry; McKenzie asked to intervene
22 October 2024
Freedom Park has rejected the application of Afrikaans organisations for a peaceful protest march against the Bela Act, which is planned for 5 November and will follow along Reconciliation Road to this national heritage site. In response, the Solidarity Movement turned to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, and is now calling on him to intervene to ensure that Freedom Park reconsiders this decision urgently.
The action is organised to protest against Sections 5 and 6 of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act 32 of 2024 (Bela Act), which is set to deprive school governing bodies of the final decision-making powers over schools’ admission and language policies. President Cyril Ramaphosa granted three months for further discussions on these articles. Meanwhile, at least 50 Afrikaans organisations and more than 70 schools have adopted a resolution at the Bela Action Summit held on 10 October and agreed to a day of protest and a protest march to show the Afrikaans community’s opposition to the two articles.
On 14 October, AfriForum sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Park, Dr Jane Mufamadi, and officially requested that access to the site be granted to the protesters as the march’s destination. In the letter, details of the planned march, the reason for the protest action and the assurance that all necessary security measures will be taken to host the event are given. “We plan to march from the Voortrekker Monument to Freedom Park, where we intend to hand over a memorandum to representatives of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Presidency,” Llewellynn Hemmens, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Pretoria, stated in the application.
However, Mufamadi’s reply, which, although dated 16 October, was only sent to the civil rights organisation yesterday. It clearly states that after “careful consideration” permission cannot be given for the request since “Freedom Park is not mandated to deal with requests of this nature.” AfriForum was also advised to communicate with the Presidency directly about the matter.
According to Flip Buys, Chairman of the Solidarity Movement, Freedom Park’s refusal indicates that this institution, which claims to celebrate South Africa’s heritage, does not consider the celebration or protection of Afrikaans and the Afrikaans community as part of this mandate. “The park’s mission to build a future as a united nation does not seem to include the Afrikaans community, and their refusal can only be interpreted as a symbolic move to exclude Afrikaners and Afrikaans speakers from participating in this unity,” Buys explains.
The Solidarity Movement, which is heading the preparations for the protest action, has meanwhile instructed its legal team to also start legal proceedings and, in addition to the request to McKenzie, to investigate all possible remedies for the approval of the protest action.
In the meantime, the Solidarity Movement, AfriForum, Solidarity, the Solidarity School Support Centre (SOS) and numerous other Afrikaans institutions continue with plans to hold the march and, if necessary, to lead the procession to the entrance of Freedom Park. Large numbers of people have already registered to participate in it at www.belaprotes.co.za.
Issued by Kallie Kriel, CEO, AfriForum, 22 October 2024
