Thabiso Goba5 November 2024 | 10:25

Not cancelling BELA Act will be a mockery of GNU, says AfriForum

The group has asked the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus to leave the GNU if President Cyril Ramaphosa doesn't change clauses four and five of the Bela Act.

Not cancelling BELA Act will be a mockery of GNU, says AfriForum

On Friday, 13 September 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa officially signed the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Picture: Thabiso Goba / Eyewitness News

JOHANNESBURG - Lobby group Afriforum says if the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act is not cancelled, it will make a mockery of the Government of National Unity (GNU). 

The group has asked the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus to leave the GNU if President Cyril Ramaphosa doesn't change clauses four and five of the Bela Act.

The two clauses whose implementation has been delayed, speak to the school’s language and admission policies.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Stop BELA march in Pretoria, Afriforum CEO Kallie Kriel said that the policy threatens the future of Afrikaans schools.

"The worst thing any government can do is target a specific cultural community. Even if it’s the EFF- MK government, that is the worst thing that can happen and it makes a mockery of the word ‘Government of National Unity’ because if BELA comes into place it will become a government of national disunity."