The Economic Freedom Fighters (EEF) announced that it will be taking legal action to ensure that the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill is implemented in its original form.

The party said this was to protect African children from what it termed “the clutches of white supremacists and their allies”.

The EFF accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of undermining equitable access to mother-tongue education, particularly for African languages, through “secretive negotiations” with organisations that are dedicated to preserving white privilege.

This after the Solidarity Movement put out a statement claiming that a settlement had been reached with government in the Bela Bill dispute.

However, Deputy President Paul Mashatile said the Solidarity Movement’s statement was based on a process that was not part of the official procedure of the Clearing House Mechanism of the Government of National Unity parties.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa reiterated his commitment to give the parties three months to submit proposals on sections 4 and 5, and said he awaited the outcome of those deliberations.

“It must be noted that the Bela Act was duly passed by Parliament and assented to by the President. It is now law. The Minister of Basic Education is enjoined to work towards its implementation, sections 4 and 5 aside,” the Presidency said in its statement.

Last week, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube announced the agreement with Solidarity on the exercise of her powers and responsibilities on the implementation of the Bela Act.

Ramaphosa pointed out that the agreement between the Minister and Solidarity had no bearing – in law or practical effect – on the inclusive multiparty discussions that were underway on sections 4 and 5 of the Act.

He further stated that the agreement was devoid of influence on the President’s powers to ultimately take a decision regarding the commencement of the Act. 

The EFF viewed Ramaphosa’s response on the settlement between the Minister and Solidarity, however, as a weak defence and a transparent attempt, to absolve himself of responsibility for a process he facilitated, which the EFF said demonstrated his lack of leadership and accountability.

“Ramaphosa's reiteration that the Bela Act was duly passed and that its implementation is inevitable rings hollow when the critical clauses that address exclusionary practices remain in limbo. The EFF rejects his feigned detachment, as it is clear that his administration has already caved to the demands of white supremacist organisations. His assurances are meaningless without concrete action to enforce the law in its original form, or return the Bill to the National Assembly if it is indeed not satisfactory,” the EFF said.

The party highlighted that the recent agreement between the Education Minister and Solidarity, which it said delayed the implementation of critical clauses in the Bela Bill, exposed the “sinister reality of who truly governs South Africa -white racist organisations like Solidarity, the Democratic Alliance (DA), Freedom Front Plus (FF+), and AfriForum, not the elected representatives of the people.”

It noted that it was unconscionable that a Bill, passed in Parliament and aimed at addressing historical injustices, had been “sabotaged behind closed doors” because the DA and “their white supremacist allies refuse to relinquish their stranglehold” on Afrikaans as a weapon of exclusion in schools.

“With his deep-seated desire to please white people by bowing to the demands of Solidarity, DA and AfriForum, Ramaphosa has not only undermined the authority of the legislative arm of government but has also signalled to South Africans that white racist interests hold more power than the democratic processes of this country,” the EFF said.