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Solidarity’s major challenge against the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA) will continue in court if this amendment bill is signed into law on Friday by Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa.

This assurance was given today at a media conference during which Solidarity described BELA as a red line that could threaten the entire composition of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

According to Solidarity’s Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann, Pres. Ramaphosa’s signing of this law relies on a false mandate to be able to do so.

“BELA was anxiously steamrollered through shortly before the election, because the ANC knew they would not have enough support for it after the election.

“Now Ramaphosa, as if he has all the power, wants to sign the law as president of the GNU while, in reality, the ANC’s support dropped to 40% in the election,” Hermann said.

Solidarity considers the clauses on language and admission policies in BELA as a direct attack on Afrikaans education, the Afrikaans language andAfrikaans teachers and the Afrikaans youth.

Hermann further says that BELA is a clear red line, especially with regard to Solidarity’s early goodwill expressed towards the GNU.

“We were also involved in various discussions with the DA and the FF+, and they too identified it as a red line – thus a matter of serious concern. Now we see how the president is challenging that red line, as well as the consensus that was established with the establishment of the GNU.

“We made a clear appeal to those political parties who are partners in the GNU. It is not only about being against the signing. I also believe it is necessary for them to declare a dispute about it.

“Such an urgent dispute can also provide an indication of how disputes in the GNU will be dealt with in the future,” Hermann said.

If, according to Hermann, Pres. Ramaphosa continues with the signing of BELA, it would be clear how he really disregards the GNU.

In such case, Solidarity, AfriForum and the Solidarity Support Centre for Schools (SCS) are ready to go to court together to fight BELA. Today, these organisations, together with the Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Associations (FAK), Solidarity Helping Hand and the Afrikaanse Onderwysnetwerk (AON) (meaning Afrikaans education network) have fully committed themselves to the fight against BELA.