South Africa's Coalition Government Faces Tension Over Education Reform

President Cyril Ramaphosa's signing of the Bela bill sparks conflict within the coalition, testing the unity of the government formed after May's election.

• The Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill introduces significant changes, including national regulation of school admissions and language of instruction.
• The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Afrikaans-speaking community oppose the bill, citing threats to mother-tongue education and existing school governance rights.
• President Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) argues the bill is essential to address educational inequalities and improve the system.
• DA leader John Steenhuisen warns that the bill's enactment could violate the coalition agreement and has threatened legal action.
• Despite tensions, both ANC and DA leaders express that policy disagreements do not pose an existential threat to the coalition's stability.

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