President Ramaphosa affirms commitment to multiparty talks on BELA Act

President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged the agreement between the Minister of Basic Education and Solidarity regarding the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA). The BELA Bill, passed by Parliament on 26 October 2023 and signed into law by the President on 13 September 2024, has sparked discussions over certain sections.

To address concerns, the President delayed the implementation of sections 4 and 5—focused on school admission and language policies—by three months. This allows stakeholders time to propose solutions for the contested elements.

On 28 November 2024, the Minister of Basic Education signed an agreement with Solidarity on her responsibilities for implementing the Act.

However, the President emphasized that this agreement doesn’t affect the ongoing inclusive discussions involving multiple parties or his authority to finalize the implementation process.

President Ramaphosa reaffirmed his commitment to the timeline set when he signed the Bill, awaiting recommendations on sections 4 and 5. Meanwhile, the rest of the BELA Act is set for implementation once regulations are finalized.

The President remains committed to upholding the law and driving educational reforms that will benefit future generations of learners.