GOOD Statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the GNU Clearing House Mechanism
20 December 2024
The GOOD Party welcomes President Ramaphosa signing the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act into law today without watering it down to appease right-wing formations intent on “defending” some imaginary “attack” on Afrikaans speaking children from cultural integration.
As noted in a GOOD statement issued on Tuesday, while the DA’s Helen Zille was terming the Act “a revenge project against Afrikaans” her own party was already implementing its provisions in Tulbagh, in the Western Cape.
The reason her party was implementing the Act in Tulbagh is because it made sense to accommodate more children at Hoërskool Tulbagh, which has capacity to spare, rather than increase overcrowding at Lingcinga Zethu Secondary School. The appropriate arrangements will be made to facilitate an English-language stream at Hoërskool Tulbagh, while Afrikaans-speaking children will continue to learn in Afrikaans.
GOOD notes President Ramaphosa’s reassurance that the recommendations of some members of the Government of National Unity’s Clearing House to proceed with enacting the unadulterated law, including its contentious clauses, had been endorsed by the leaders of parties to the GNU in a meeting today.
The Constitution demands that the State do everything in its means to ensure that every child, without exception, has equal access to a decent education.
This right cannot be superseded by the fact that, 30 years after apartheid, the language they speak and the colour of their skin still largely determines where they live, their quality of life, and where they send their children to school.
The BELA Act relieves School Governing Bodies of the sole power (and burden) of determining school language policies but contains sufficient safeguards to prevent provincial education departments from taking arbitrary decisions.
The governing bodies, of course, retain the right to seek protection from the courts should they feel legal processes haven’t been followed.
The BELA Act is a win for children.
Now it’s up to the Minister of Basic Education to demonstrate to all South Africans, including those who are anxious about social justice, that transformation is critical to our nation’s sustainability and success.
Media enquiries: Media@forgood.org.za