South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law at a public ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 13 September 2024.
The implementation of clauses 4 and 5 of the BELA Act, regarding language and admission policies, will be delayed due to the Democratic Alliance’s threat to exit South Africa’s coalition government.
The BELA Act amends sections of the South African Schools Act of 1996 and the Employment of Educators Act of 1998. The major changes include
- Grade R is now the new compulsory school-starting age
- Homeschooling will be regulated
- Admission and language policy will be determined by School Governing Bodies subject to approval by the Department of Basic Education
- Parents who fail to ensure their child is in school may face jail
- Criminalization of corporal punishment in schools
South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube of the DA did not attend the signing ceremony despite previously stating that she would implement the BELA bill if it was signed into law.
“The issue of the minister boycotting the signing of the BELA Bill while she is an executive authority of the Department of Basic Education cannot be a normal thing” South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) general-secretary, Mugwena Maluleke said.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, Ramaphosa said the bill would transform the country’s schooling sector.
