Discussion | AfriForum preparing for legal action to oppose BELA Bill

JOHANNESBURG - A storm is brewing over the contentious Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, or BELA Bill as it's more widely known.

AfriForum says they are preparing for legal action should the bill be signed into law on Friday by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The bill aims to improve governance in the education sector.

It will make Grade R the new compulsory school starting year, and criminalise parents who don’t ensure their children are in school.

As it stands, School Governing Bodies determine and approve language policies.

The bill will take away these powers and hand them to the Basic Education Department.

Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, unpacks this further.