Zuko Komisa

The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, which intends to improve governance within South Africa’s education sector, will be signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday.
According to the the Presidency the Bill aims to establish Grade R as the new mandatory school entry age, penalize parents and guardians who fail to make sure their kids attend school, and make it clear that physical punishment is no longer permitted in schools, with consequences for those found guilty of such offenses.
At a ceremony to be conducted at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the President will sign the Bill in public.
“The BELA Bill amends sections of the South African Schools Act of 1996 (SASA) and the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (EEA) to account for developments in the education landscape since the enactment of the original legislation.
“The amendments are a response to court judgments that protect and give effect to the Bill of Rights,” the Presidency said in a statement.
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