Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

Education and leadership projects Media statements | Media statements

AfriForum submits comments on “Bela regulations”

ByAfriForum 02/10/202502/10/2025

Soundbite: Alana Bailey (English)

Soundbite: Alana Bailey (Afrikaans)

AfriForum has just submitted comments on the so-called Bela regulations. In August this year, these draft regulations for the application of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (Bela) with regard to admission to and capacity of schools were published for public comment. Initially, the closing date was 5 September 2025, but this was later extended to 5 October.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, the purpose of regulations is to create more clarity about the content of laws. AfriForum’s commentary, which was drafted with the assistance of its legal team, therefore mainly deals with terms and provisions in the regulations that still do not create sufficient clarity.

“Among the most controversial issues that have been in the spotlight since the first version of the Bela Bill is the role of school governing bodies versus that of provincial education departments, as well as schools’ language policies. Although the regulations on schools’ language policies have not yet been published for comment, their role must be taken into account when handling admissions to schools. Unfortunately, the regulations on capacity and admission do not yet provide sufficient clarity on this and this was emphasised in AfriForum’s commentary, among other things,” says Bailey.

She adds that clarity is not only essential for effective administrative purposes, but can prevent protracted disputes and expensive legal actions. AfriForum therefore hopes that these ambiguities, as well as regulations that contradict each other, will be corrected.

As mentioned, there is still an opportunity for the public to submit comments until 5 October and AfriForum encourages anyone who has not yet done so to participate in the process. Both sets of regulations will have a significant impact on the nature of public schools and the provision of high-quality education, therefore it is necessary that as many institutions, organisations and individuals as possible submit comments on these regulations. The necessary information and addresses for submission can be found in the Government Gazette of 1 September 2025 (volume 723, number 53275), or interested parties can contact AfriForum at onderwys@afriforum.co.za.