The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) is demanding that President Cyril Ramaphosa activate sections 4 and 5 of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act before Friday, or face legal action and a strike.
The BELA Act, signed into law by Ramaphosa on September 13, 2024, has seen the suspension of the implementation of the two controversial clauses for three months. This delay follows ongoing consultations with civil society groups and political parties who oppose these clauses.
Clause 4 of the Act would give the Department of Basic Education increased control over school admissions policies, while Clause 5 mandates that school governing bodies submit their language policies to the provincial head of department for approval.
Sadtu spokesperson Nomusa Cembi criticized the delay, stating, “The BELA Act has not been challenged in any court for its constitutionality nor declared unconstitutional, and there is no lawful or constitutionally valid reason to delay the activation of these sections.” Cembi further accused the government of postponing the clauses for political reasons, claiming that the decision was influenced by the objections of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and her party, the Democratic Alliance.
Sadtu has made it clear that if these sections are not enacted by Friday, they will pursue legal action and organize a strike.