Ramaphosa downplays concerns of a fracture of the government

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa downplays concerns of a fracture of the government after a key party in the country's young unity government warned it could not rule out quitting the testy alliance as it faces its first major test over an education bill.

The new law will give the government more power to determine the language and admission policies of schools which critics say could undermine mother-tongue education.

The Afrikaans community in particular fears this could penalise schools that teach in its minority language.Ramaphosa said he had dinner and talked with "members of the government of national unity" about "issues that are going to empower them to continue working, as a united collective, and leading this country forward."