Maroela Media reports that a mediation process between trade union Solidarity, the Department of Basic Education and the Presidency will commence on Friday at the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) in a bid to resolve the dispute over the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA).

The mediation process comes after Solidarity served a ‘section 77’ notice on Nedlac for its members to be protected when they participate in protest march against BELA in Pretoria on 5 November. In terms of the Labour Relations Act, in considering such an application, Nedlac must first attempt to resolve such a dispute. Dr Dirk Hermann, Solidarity chief executive, indicated: “We are entering the mediation with an open mind. We have a very strong case and will state our case loud and clear. The government deals recklessly with schools in general and particularly so with Afrikaans schools.” President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the BELA Amendment Bill into law on 13 September this year, but sections 5 and 6, which deal with schools’ language and admission policies, have been put on hold for three months for talks on their implementation to take place. “If no settlement is reached after the Nedlac mediation, Nedlac must issue a certificate which will mean that Solidarity members may participate in the march without employers being allowed to take action against them,” Hermann pointed out. However, Solidarity said the 5 November march would continue regardless of the outcome of the Nedlac process as institutions belonging to the Solidarity Movement, other Afrikaans organisations, educational organisations, parents and traditional communities will participate in the march.

• Read the full original of the Afrikaans report in the above regard at Maroela Media

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