BELA is a dangerous and harmful attempt at centralisation and homogenisation

Good and independent education is part of thriving communities and a healthy society. Historically, business people have helped make such education possible, from basic levels to advanced university education and technical training. Sometimes states also helped in this task, sometimes not, and sometimes – like now – the state seeks to undermine it.

The BELA Act is an improper and harmful attempt by the state to take control of education away from parents. It ignores the authority and responsibility of parents over basic education, within the context of their communities, churches, and other institutions. It attempts to subject functional schools to a state that experiences and contributes to more and more failure every year.

Sakeliga's Mission: Building Scalable Solutions to State Failure

• Join thousands of dedicated, mission-aligned funders
• Protect our communities from a failing state
• Secure a flourishing economy in the place you love

Our Mission & Impact

Politically, the BELA law is an extension of a specific ideological agenda. It promotes, under the guise of diversity, a uniformity of institutions. In the business world, this ideological agenda involves ownership and hiring requirements. Under BELA, this involves a refusal that schools may have an Afrikaans language policy, or that parents may determine the admission policy of schools or the best educational path for their children.

Throughout, the state tries to impose uniformity on society, rather than respecting diversity.

Although Sakeliga, as a business organisation, will not play a leading role in opposing the BELA matter, we hold the following position:

1. We support the opposition offered by parents, schools and other organisations against BELA’s interference in admissions policy, language policy, and education.

2. Where the state seeks to implement BELA, we encourage schools, parents, and other actors to follow a strategy of maximum appropriate non-compliance with that interference which is unacceptable and harmful.

3. Where the opposition to BELA and maximum appropriate non-compliance is insufficient, it will be necessary for parents, churches, civic institutions, business people and others to return to the historical task of providing education and training regardless of the actions of the state.