The code of conduct and suspensions and expulsions: BELA Act’s passes and fails

The Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA Act) introduced amendments to the South African Schools Act, which came into effect on December 24, 2024. Specifically, sections 8 and 9 of the Schools Act, addressing codes of conduct, disciplinary hearings, suspensions, and expulsions, have faced criticism for insufficient alignment with the constitutional principle of prioritizing the best interests of the child. This article examines the amendments to these sections to assess whether the BELA Act effectively addresses these concerns. The analysis concludes that while the amendments incorporate some judicial precedents and make valuable contributions to the legislation, they fall short of fully promoting the best interests of all learners in school disciplinary processes.