DBE has started the process of implementing the BELA Act - Gwarube

CAPE TOWN - Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the contentious BELA Act was being implemented and provinces were prepared. 

But she said this excluded the two language-related clauses that the department was still consulting other members of the Government of National Unity (GNU) on.

Gwarube was addressing a media briefing in Parliament on Wednesday, where she also gave a progress report on the matric exams.

The African National Congress (ANC) study group on basic education in Parliament on Tuesday urged the president to promulgate the commencement of all sections of the BELA Act with immediate effect.

This followed a protest march against the act on Tuesday led by the Democratic Alliance (DA), AfriForum, the Freedom Front Plus, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Solidarity.

It said no bill which has gone through comprehensive public participation could be "amended through coercion, intimidation and political posturing". 

But Gwarube said the department was implementing the new law.

"As a department, we've already started the process of implementing the BELA Act because it has been signed into law. In fact, we've started to engage provinces and to essentially roll out workshops that the department has started to roll out."

She said they were still waiting on the consultations on clauses four and five to conclude, which is a process led by the president.