All aspects of BELA Act will be implemented

JOHANNESBURG - African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula insists that all aspects of the BELA Act will be implemented despite pushback from some political parties and civil organisations.

Mbalula led a walk to Tshwane House in the capital on Friday afternoon, where a memorandum of demands was delivered to Mayor Nasiphi Moya from some of the capital’s residents.

The act, which is aimed at strengthening the country’s schooling system, has received rife contestation between the ANC and its coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA).

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The sea of orange which took to the Voortrekker Monument earlier this week remains etched in the minds of many, with the ANC's Mbalula criticising the DA's involvement, despite the president allowing for clauses it objected to still be ventilated.

"That march with an apartheid flag at Voortrekker Hoogte must tell you a story of our nation," Mbalula said.

Mbalula reflected on the sheer volumes of those at the march, warning that it could be a signal of what life would be in South Africa without the ANC.

"That tells you a story. It's not a threat – if we are out of power and we are unable to stop them, we will go back," the secretary-general said.

He said there could be no compromise on transformation.