Thousands march against Bela Act

ANGER: TARGETS AFRIKAANS SCHOOLS - AFRIFORUM

- Marizka Coetzer

About 10,000 protesters gathered yesterday at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria and marched against the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act 32 of 2024 (Bela Act) to Freedom Park.

Wearing orange shirts, the marchers, representing various organisations, including AfriForum which organised the march, chanted: "Bela is boos, los ons kroos", which loosely translates to "Bela is evil, leave our kids alone".

They were joined by DA leader John Steenhuisen, Freedom Front Plus Leader Dr Pieter Groenewald and Afrikaans interest groups as they made their way to the gate of Freedom Park, where they handed over a memorandum of demands to Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie.

Before the march began, singers Steve Hofmeyr and Pieter Koen took to the stage to sing Afrikaans classics like Sarie Marais before the proceedings opened with prayers and speeches from interest group leaders.

In the memorandum, the interest groups said they rejected any attack or limitations on mother-tongue education in general and, specifically, on Afrikaans.