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PANEL DISCUSSION | Concerns have been raised about admitting undocumented foreign children to South African schools as part of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. Parts of the Bela Act ensure that no child is turned away from a classroom due to a lack of documentation. Watch: #Newzroom405

Newzroom Afrika

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33,870 views • 1 year ago •via X (Twitter)

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11 Comments

Finn1 year ago

The sole purpose of the Bela Act is to go after Afrikaans schools. The rest is just backfiring BS that was as usual not thought through

steve van niekerk1 year ago

But the only response from our looting revolutionary black ruling elite,supported by their worshippers, was to attack Afriforum for opposing the Bela act.Typical.

Adriaan I Lombard1 year ago

The BELA act will open the flood gates to the children of illegal immigrants into our black schools. Free health care, jobs, and schooling for ALL Zimbabweans coming to South Africa illegally. Vuyo was concerned about the "black child" the other day..well, this will destroy our black schools. Our white schools will be next. @ZungulaVuyo

JS_Bond1 year ago

People supported BELA entirely because of their hatred for those who opposed it. People must not complain.

Power Homeschool1 year ago

The Acellus® Learning System automates much of the busy-work associated with grading & keeping records so that parents can focus on what matters most–helping your child succeed. Enroll now!⬇️

D Monde1 year ago

Our problem stems from our unpatriotic constitution that these laws are allowed. Section 29 says "Everyone" has a right to education it doesn't prioritise saying " SA citizens" have a right to education .We must demand to amend the constitution.

Zemveli1 year ago

This should have been ‘No South African child is turned away from a classroom due to a lack of documentation”

BrianGriffin1 year ago

Once again your hatred for Afrikaans has backfired into you paying for foreigners to go to school in your own country for whom you will now also pay 🤣

Fit for Purpose1 year ago

South Africa will regret the unintended consequences of this impulsive policy change.

Barry Saayman1 year ago

Cannot and should not include illegal immigrants. Schools have no budget for illegal immigrants. Moreover, ss49(4) of the Immigration Act, 2002 criminalizes intentionally facilitates an illegal foreigner to receive public services to which such illegal foreigner is not entitled.

Thabang1 year ago

Clarity is needed, yes a child without a birth certificate but with South African parents A child of illegal immigrants is a NO, because firstly the parents are not documented and illegal

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My Fellow South Africans, On the 13th of September this year, I signed into law the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. This Act is vital to the transformation of the education system in our country. The Act is an important part of ongoing efforts to build an education system that is more effective and more equitable in line with the precepts of our Constitution. The BELA Act continues the work that has been done over the last 30 years to ensure that all children have equal access to quality education – from their early years and throughout their schooling. As a democratic country committed to building a new society, we have stated unequivocally that all children must get an education that prepares them to succeed in life, no matter what the circumstances of their birth might be, no matter where they live, no matter what language they speak. In implementing this Act we are all ultimately guided by the Constitution. The Bill of Rights guarantees the right of every person to equality. It guarantees the right of every person to receive a basic education. Importantly, the Constitution says that every person has the right to receive education in the official language or languages of their choice where reasonably practicable. This is a right that applies equally to an English-speaker as it does a Zulu-speaker. It applies equally to someone who speaks Afrikaans as it does to someone who speaks Xitsonga, Sesotho, Sepedi, isiXhosa, Setswana, Tshivenda, isiNdebele or siSwati. And now, it also applies equally to someone who uses the South African Sign Language. The Basic Education Laws Amendment Act enacts measures that strengthen the ability of our schools to give effect to these Constitutional rights. In the application of this law, we must ensure that no language is diminished. Rather, we must work to ensure that all official languages are valued and promoted. At the time that I assented to the BELA Bill, I noted that a number of parties to the Government of National Unity and other key role players in our country had expressed their wish to further engage each other on sections of the bill that deal with issues of admission and language. I said that whilst I had assented to the Bill, in the spirit of cooperation and meaningful engagement, I would delay the implementation date of the BELA Act in totality by three months. This would give the parties time to deliberate on these issues and make proposals on how the divergent views may be accommodated. I also said should the parties not agree on an approach at the end of the three-month period, I would then direct the Minister and the Department to proceed with the implementation of the Act. Over the last three months, discussions have been held with a view of reaching consensus on these outstanding clauses of the BELA Act. Various formations outside of government have also made representations, both for and against the relevant sections. Last week, I received a report from the Government of National Unity ‘clearing house’ mechanism. This is the structure which brings together the parties to the Government of National Unity and other parties represented in Parliament to deal with contentious issues and thereafter report to the leaders of the political parties represented in the Government of National Unity. In their final report, the parties agreed that the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act should not be sent back to Parliament to make changes to the sections that were in contention. The GNU clearing house participants agreed that the Act be fully implemented. This view was endorsed by the leaders of the parties to the GNU in a meeting I held with them today. I accordingly advised them that I would proceed to sign a Presidential Proclamation to bring the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act into operation from today.

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