Zille believes clauses 4 and 5 of BELA Act are a project to destroy Afrikaans. Image: by Britannica.
(The Post News)– Helen Zille, the Democratic Alliance (DA) federal council chairperson, has come out swinging against the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA), specifically clauses 4 and 5. Zille believes these clauses are a thinly veiled attempt to destroy Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in South African schools.
The BELA Act, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September, has been a contentious issue, with clauses 4 and 5 being the main points of contention. Clause 4 gives the Department of Basic Education (DBE) more authority over admission policies, while clause 5 requires school governing bodies to submit their language policies to the provincial head of department for approval.
Zille’s apprehensions stem from the possible decline of Afrikaans-medium educational institutions. She cites Stellenbosch University as a pertinent example, noting that it was once an Afrikaans-speaking establishment but has since transitioned to predominantly using English for instruction. She contends that the enforcement of clauses 4 and 5 may result in a comparable outcome for Afrikaans-medium schools.
Zille has emphasized the value of protecting endangered languages like Afrikaans in the DA’s strong opposition to the BELA Act. Additionally, she has cautioned that mother-tongue education may be jeopardized if provincial chiefs are granted ultimate control over language policies.
Despite differences with the ANC over the BELA Act, Zille claims that discussions about the two provisions have been beneficial. The DA is dedicated to dispute settlement within the Government of National Unity (GNU), but Zille has made it plain that they are willing to pursue legal action if the sections of the BELA Act are applied.
As consultations on clauses 4 and 5 continue, the future of Afrikaans-medium education in South Africa remains uncertain. Will the government heed Zille’s warnings and reassess the adoption of these clauses, or will it proceed with the BELA Act as is? Only time will tell.
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