The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have slammed President Cyril Ramaphosa for what they describe as a betrayal of democracy, accusing him of bowing to white supremacist interests by delaying the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act.
EFF spokesperson Leigh Mathys said the agreement between the Department of Basic Education and Solidarity undermines Parliament and perpetuates exclusionary practices in schools.
“The African child cannot wait for endless delays and backroom deals—transformation must be implemented without further obstruction,” Mathys said.
The party has criticised Ramaphosa for prioritising the interests of organisations like Solidarity, AfriForum, and the Democratic Alliance (DA), claiming the President is more concerned with appeasing privileged groups than addressing systemic inequalities.
“This betrayal is proof that the real power lies not with the people but with those who cling to the vestiges of apartheid through economic and cultural domination,” Mathys added.
In contrast, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has dismissed concerns over the BELA Act as overblown.
COSATU and its affiliate, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), maintain that the Act should be implemented despite disagreements over clauses related to language and admission policies.
“The BELA Act is a very common-sense, pragmatic approach. Schools will set the admissions, the dress code, and the language policies,” said COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks.
He also downplayed fears that the disagreement could destabilise the Government of National Unity (GNU). “I don’t think it can break the GNU, but it is an important issue for all sides,” Parks said.
The controversy stems from Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s recent agreement with Solidarity, which includes further consultations with provincial education heads and the public.
The agreement also shields Afrikaans-medium schools already operating at capacity from being compelled to change their language or admission policies, a move critics argue undermines transformation.
Gauteng MEC Matome Chiloane has rejected the agreement, saying it risks reserving schools for specific groups, a concern echoed by the EFF. Chiloane believes the deal contradicts the BELA Act’s intent to address exclusion and promote equality in the education system.
The Presidency, however, insists that Ramaphosa remains committed to the Act and has given all parties a three-month window to propose revisions to contentious clauses.
While the President’s office claims the ultimate decision rests with him, opponents view the consultation period as a delay tactic to avoid implementing the Act’s more transformative elements.
As debates intensify, COSATU continues to advocate for calm and pragmatism, while the EFF calls for immediate action to protect African children from what it calls “the clutches of white supremacists and their political allies.”