The Presidency has announced on Friday evening that President Cyril Ramaphosa has forged ahead with a full implementation of BELA Act which was highly contested for months by Democratic Alliance and AfriForum.

President Ramaphosa partially signed into law the BELA Act more than three months ago while was trying to give the Democratic Alliance an opportunity to raise its concerns regarding that Bill.

On 13 September 2024,during the signing of the Act,President excluded Clauses 4 and 5 which Democratic Alliance viewed as unconstitutional.

Last night,the President has emphasized that BELA Act will be a best fit to improve the education system of South Africa and will be inclusive and promotes equality.

"This Act is vital to the transformation of the education system in our country.

"The Act is an important part of ongoing efforts to build an education system that is more effective and more equitable in line with the precepts of our Constitution.

"The BELA Act continues the work that has been done over the last 30 years to ensure that all children have equal access to quality education - from their early years and throughout their schooling.

As a democratic country committed to building a new society,we have stated unequivocally that all children must get an education that prepares them to succeed in life,no matter what the circumstances of their birth might be,no matter where they live,no matter what language they speak,"said President Ramaphosa.

He explained that BELA Act will abide to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and is designed to address challenges of inequality which exist in the current education system.

"In implementing this Act we are all ultimately guided by the Constitution.

"The Bill of Rights guarantees the right of every person to equality.

"It guarantees the right of every person to receive a basic education.

"Importantly,the Constitution says that every person has the right to receive education in the official language or languages of their choice where reasonably practicable.

"This is a right that applies equally to an English-speaker as it does a Zulu-speaker.

"It applies equally to someone who speaks Afrikaans as it does to someone who speaks Xitsonga,Sesotho,Sepedi,isiXhosa,Setswana,Tshivenda,isiNdebele or siSwati.

And now,it also applies equally to someone who uses the South African Sign Language,"President added.

He stated that in the application of this law,we must ensure that no language is diminished.Rather,we must work to ensure that all official languages are valued and promoted.

The Presidency has revealed that Presidenct Ramaphosa has instructed the Minister of Basic Education to make sure that the BELA Act is implemented accordingly.

"I have instructed the Minister of Basic Education to see to the full implementation of the BELA Act.

I have also instructed the Minister to do what is necessary,as is customary with any law,to ensure that the timeframe of implementation -particularly with regard to the preparedness of the system for universal Grade R access -and the consequential regulations setting out the norms and standards are prepared,"said President Ramaphosa.

The President concluded that all parties that will be responsible for the implementation of the Act must respect the Constitution and must make sure that nobody is excluded.

"All bodies and all officials responsible for the implementation of this Act are required at all times to act in accordance with the Constitution,the law and the relevant policies and regulations.

"We must therefore do everything in our means to ensure that every child,without exception,has equal access to a decent,quality education.

"We must therefore leave no child behind.Let us ensure that our children get the best education so that they can take our beautiful country and our diverse nation forward to a prosperous future,"President concluded.