South Africa`s coalition threatened by new education law

The stability of South Africa’s coalition government is under strain as President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to sign new education reforms into law. The Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill, which introduces major changes to the education system, has sparked disagreement between the two main coalition partners, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), even before May’s general election led to their power-sharing agreement. Among the bill's key reforms are government control over school admissions and language policies, compulsory schooling for children as young as four, and stricter regulations on homeschooling. Additionally, corporal punishment will be strictly banned, with violators facing fines or jail time. The ANC argues that these changes are necessary to address educational inequalities that persist decades after apartheid.

However, the DA and other coalition members are strongly opposed to some of the provisions, particularly the one concerning language and admissions policies, which they argue undermines the autonomy of schools. DA leader John Steenhuisen has warned that if the bill is signed without amendment, the party may be forced to reevaluate its position in the coalition. Opposition has been particularly strong from the Afrikaans-speaking community, with civil rights group AfriForum labeling the bill a threat to Afrikaans schools and quality education. The Freedom Front Plus, another coalition party representing Afrikaner interests, has also criticized the bill as poorly conceived.

Despite the tensions, both President Ramaphosa and DA leadership have downplayed the immediate risk to the coalition. Steenhuisen stated that policy disagreements do not necessarily threaten the government, although he warned that continued disregard for the constitution could prompt the DA to reconsider its role in the coalition. ⚡ Image Credit: GettyImages