'BELA Act is targeting Afrikaans schools specifically' - AfriForum

PRETORIA - Minority interest group, AfriForum, said that stopping the BELA Act was the biggest issue for the Afrikaans community since the turn of democracy. 

Thousands of people showed up at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria to protest against the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act.

The BELA Bill was signed into law in September, however, President Cyril Ramaphosa delayed the implementation of two clauses to allow for further consultation.

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The clauses delayed by Ramaphosa speak to school admissions and language policies.

In its current form, the BELA Act stipulates that the provincial government determines a school's language of instruction. 

AfriForum CEO, Kallie Kriel, said that this would disproportionately affect Afrikaans schools.

"This is the biggest protest from the Afrikaans community since 1994 and there’s a reason for that. People are angry because the BELA Act is targeting Afrikaans schools specifically and therefore its targeting our children."

Kriel said that a school's language and admission policy should be determined by governing bodies.