Gayton McKenzie defended the protest action against the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (also known as the Bella Bill) on Tuesday, 5 November. According to the Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, it’s because he is “unashamedly Afrikaans.”
The outspoken leader of the Patriotic Alliance received a memorandum from protestors, who also included ministers Pieter Groenwald, John Steenhuisen, and the NGO AfriForum.
Although President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the bill, it has come under scrutiny over two of its clauses, which have been put on hold. Sections four and five of the law propose to give the Department of Basic Education the authority to override decisions based on school language policies and admissions.
GAYTON MCKENZIE ON BELA BILL PROTESTS
In clips posted on social media, Gayton McKenzie is seen receiving a memorandum about the group’s opposition to the Bela Bill. The handover took place at the Freedom Park in Pretoria.
Addressing the crowds, he said: “I’m not ashamed to say that Afrikaans should have its rightful place in South Africa. I love Afrikaans”.
He later told media: “I will fight for Afrikaans, and for every other language. All languages should be equal”.
The minister also called on authorities to treat the situation with dignity and sensitivity.
Gayton was roped into the backlash against the Bela Bill after trade union Solidarity called on the minister to intervene over Freedom Park’s initial refusal to allow the protestors to use the venue.
WHAT DOES THE LEGISLATURE MEAN FOR SCHOOLS?
In September, President Ramaphosa signed off on the Basic Education Laws Amendment, commonly known as the Bela Bill.
However, he suspended the implementation of two controversial clauses – sections four and five – for further consultations among the opposition.
According to SADTU, section four gives the Department of Basic Education greater control over admissions policy.
Images via Facebook:
@steve.hofmeyr
Section five will force the school governing body to submit the school’s language policy to the provincial head of department for approval. This means that the department could essentially select the official languages of each school in relation to the community it serves.
Many Afrikaans South Africans fear that this would “eradicate” their home language being taught in local schools. Others claim that the Bela Bill would serve parents and children who had been excluded from Afrikaans schools based on their inability to speak the language.
ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST THE BELA BILL?
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