The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) bill in South Africa has sparked controversy and division among lawmakers due to its provisions regarding school language and admission policies. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed the bill into law but suspended the implementation of the contentious sections for further consultation among opposing factions within the government. While authorities argue that the law will make education more equitable by addressing economic disparities that have impacted the Black majority, critics from the Afrikaans-speaking community fear that the new regulations will threaten mother-tongue education.
The new amendment modifies existing school laws in South Africa, including provisions banning corporal punishment, enforcing school attendance, and increasing scrutiny for homeschooling. However, Sections 4 and 5, which regulate languages of instruction in schools and admission policies, have become the focal points of opposition from Afrikaans-speaking minority groups. These sections allow schools to choose their language of instruction out of South Africa’s 11 official languages, but also give the National Department of Basic Education the final authority to override any decisions made by school boards. The history of exclusion based on language, particularly Afrikaans, at certain schools has contributed to the push for policy changes.
Afrikaans speakers argue that the new law threatens their language, culture, and identity, with some schools feeling pressured to switch to English instruction. Afrikaans, a language spoken by various racial groups in South Africa, has a complex history tied to colonial rule and apartheid. Afrikaans schools fear that giving more power to government officials to determine language and admissions policies could politicize the issue and lead to fewer schools teaching in Afrikaans. The contentious nature of the law has caused rifts within the government coalition, with some coalition partners expressing reservations about the bill.
The history of language controversies in South Africa, particularly regarding Afrikaans, dates back to British colonial rule and apartheid. Afrikaans, once seen as a symbol of self-determination for white settlers, became associated with oppression during the apartheid era. The government’s attempts to impose Afrikaans as a compulsory language in schools led to the Soweto Uprising in 1976, where hundreds of schoolchildren were killed in protests against the policy. Following the end of apartheid, Black schools predominantly opted for English as their medium of instruction.
Moving forward, the government plans to debate the contentious sections of the BELA bill over the next three months. If a resolution is not reached, the law will be fully implemented as it stands. Meanwhile, Afrikaner rights groups like AfriForum have vowed to contest the decision in court, citing concerns about the erosion of Afrikaans in public institutions. The debate over language and education policies in South Africa reflects the ongoing complexities of the country’s history and cultural diversity.
