By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Presidency has announced President Cyril Ramaphosa will sign the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill into law on Friday at the Union Buildings.
This prompted the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen to warn that the future of the Government of National Unity (GNU) may be in jeopardy, should Ramaphosa proceed.
Steenhuisen has asked Ramaphosa to send the Bill back to Parliament instead, to make certain amendments before he signs it into law.
Some civil society organisations have also brought challenges to the BELA bill, arguing it has constitutional implications for the right to mother-tongue education, amongst other issues.
The Presidency says the BELA bill aims to strengthen governance within South Africa’s education sector.
It amends sections of the South African Schools Act of 1996 (SASA) and the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (EEA) to account for developments in the education landscape since the enactment of the original legislation.
The Presidency says these amendments are a response to court judgments that protect and give effect to the Bill of Rights.
But the DA says Ramaphosa violate both the letter and spirit of the joint Statement of Intent, that forms the basis of the Government of National Unity, if he signs the Bill into law.
Steenhuisen says during the negotiations, the DA made it clear that the BELA Bill was unacceptable to his party in its current form, because it has constitutional implications.
The DA urged Ramaphosa to send the Bill back to Parliament for what Steenhuisen calls ‘a few simple amendments to bring it in line with the Constitution.’
‘Despite this, and in violation of the provisions of the Statement of Intent, the President seems intent on pushing ahead unilaterally. I have moved urgently to meet the President before Friday to re-iterate our objections in the strongest terms. I will also submit to him the simple amendments the DA requires, and urge him to use his powers to send the Bill back to Parliament.’
Civil Society organisations Afriforum and Solidarity, together with the so-called Solidarity Support Centre for Schools (SCS), teamed up earlier this year to launch a major legal battle against the BELA Bill, after it was approved by the National Council of Provinces.