President Cyril Ramaphosa with Deputy Minister of Basic Education Dr Makgabo Mhaule after signing the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law at the Union Buildings. Picture: Jacques Naude / Independent Newspapers
Durban — Teacher unions have welcomed the signing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill into law, despite the rumblings from National Government of Unity (GNU) partners, who have threatened legal action should President Cyril Ramaphosa sign.
On Friday, Ramaphosa signed the Bela Bill into law at the Union Buildings but delayed by three months the implementation of two of its clauses dealing with admission and language pending consultation.
SA National Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) general secretary Mugwena Maluleke welcomed the bill and described it as ushering in new changes to integrate, deracialise and democratise schools.
“The department has a role to play in terms of making sure that no language can be used against any learner at our schools,” Maluleke said.
CEO of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) KZN, Thirona Moodley said they also welcomed the Bela Bill as they were consulted and gave extensive input on it.
Naptosa said: “The bill is transformative and gives clarity to sections of the South African Schools Act (Sasa) that have been disputed in the courts. It protects the rights of learners by giving access to education without discrimination. The bill, now the act, allows stricter control of School Governing Bodies (SGBs), greater accountability, and transparency. SGBs are also now given more freedom in certain respects to govern without approval of the HOD or the MEC, allowing the smooth functionality of the school.”
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) also welcomed the bill, particularly on aspects of safety and child protection. It believed that the Bela bill would go a long way when it comes to assisting the department in implementing the SA Schools Act and addressing other challenges such as corporal punishment; making it compulsory for all children to attend grade R; and getting parents not willing to take responsibility when it comes to their children’s schooling, to do so.
ANC acting national spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi said they welcomed the signing of the bill.
AfriForum, Solidarity and the Solidariteit Skoleondersteuningsentrum (SOS) said Ramaphosa’s decision to open the two clauses for further discussion was proof that public pressure could succeed. The organisations held discussions with the president on Thursday.
“The danger posed by this law has not now been fully averted, but it creates room for further discussion. AfriForum, Solidarity and SOS’s legal team is still ready to fight the case in the courts should these discussions lead to nothing.
“Our position remains that those articles of Bela will have destructive consequences for Afrikaans schools and children, if implemented, and AfriForum therefore remains ready to oppose it on all possible platforms,” said AfriForum’s Alana Bailey.
ActionSA’s parliamentary chief whip Lerato Ngobeni said the limited consultation period was merely an appeasement mechanism rather than a genuine attempt to address the numerous concerns raised.
The DA had warned that Ramaphosa would violate the letter and spirit of the GNU’s statement of intent if he went ahead. The Department of Basic Education was represented at the signing by Deputy Minister of Basic Education Dr Makgabo Mhaule after Minister Siviwe Gwarube, who is adamant that Ramaphosa should refer the bill back to Parliament for reconsideration, boycotted the event.
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