Most parts of controversial BELA Bill signed

President Cyril Ramaphosa has on Friday officially signed the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law, which aims to strengthen governance within South Africa's education sector.

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Delivering remarks during the signing ceremony held at the Union Buildings, President Ramaphosa emphasised that the Bill seeks to address these challenges and is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to build an education system that is more effective and more equitable.

The Bill follows an extensive consultation process that sought to take account of views and suggestions from across society.

“Consultation, engagement and debate are defining features of our democracy. They enrich the policies that are adopted and the laws that are passed. The law that we are signing today further opens the doors of learning.

“It lays a firm foundation for learning from an early age. Grade R, the reception year before Grade 1, will now be compulsory. This will enhance our focus on Early Childhood Development. It will ensure young children are better prepared for formal schooling,” the President said.

He added that the law requires schools to apply the same standards for the admission of learners. The Bill contains provisions for improving school admissions policies, particularly with respect to vulnerable learners, like children of undocumented migrants.

The legislation promotes greater accountability with respect to the role of parents and caregivers in ensuring children attend school consistently. Home schooling will now be subject to more effective regulation and oversight.

In light of the different views expressed about the Bill, President Ramaphosa said he had decided to delay the implementation date for clauses 4 and 5 of the Bill by three months.

“In the last few days, the parties to the Government of National Unity (GNU) have expressed their wish to further engage each other on sections of the Bill that deal with issues of admission and language. In the spirit of cooperation and meaningful engagement, I have decided to delay the implementation date for clauses 4 and 5 of the Bill by three months,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said this will give the parties time to deliberate on these issues and make proposals on how the different views may be accommodated.

“Should the parties not be able to agree on an approach, then we will proceed with the implementation of these parts of the Bill,” he said.

He said all agree on the need for a common framework for collaboration as government, as school governing bodies and as parents. “For our education system to work for all, we have to work better, smarter and in a more cooperative manner,” the President said.

He called on everyone to work together to ensure that all children receive good quality education, wherever they are and whatever their circumstances.

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The ceremony was attended by Basic Education Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane, Mpumalanga MEC for Education Cathy Dlamini, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education Sipho Hlomuka and Limpopo MEC for Education Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, among others.

[WATCH]: President @CyrilRamaphosa signs the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law at the Union Buildings in Tshwane:

The #BELABill aims to strengthen governance within South Africa's education sector as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to build an education… pic.twitter.com/HQuuM5L2k3

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) September 13, 2024

The DA warned that it would continue to prepare for legal action against the adoption of the BELA Bill. DA leader John Steenhuisen said the party would continue to oppose the BELA Act through all available legal avenues.

"We note President Ramaphosa’s statement at the signing ceremony of the BELA Bill today that the implementation date of its most controversial clauses will be postponed for three months for further discussions on the current impasse relating to Sections 4 and 5 of the bill. However, the DA also note the president’s comment that “should the parties not be able to agree on an approach, then we will proceed with the implementation of these parts of the Bill”.

"This means that if there is no agreement, the ANC will proceed with implementing the clauses that empower provincial departments to over-ride school governing bodies on the issue of the language policy of schools.”

Meanwhile, ActionSA's Lerato Ngobeni said the bill does not address the structural deficiencies in the education sector.

“It proposes relatively cosmetic and poorly-costed changes and additions to a system that frankly requires a near-complete overhaul to ensure access to quality education. We are particularly disheartened by the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube's failure to persuade the president otherwise, despite widespread concerns raised by parents, educators, civil society, and her own vociferous opposition, which she has seemingly abandoned.”

The Freedom Front Plus welcomed the president's decision to delay the signing of the bill’s contentious clauses.

"During the upcoming talks, the FF Plus will do everything in its power to restrict the implementation of the objectionable parts of the law. The FF Plus will, as in this case, continue to leverage its position in the GNU to fight for all South Africans' rights.”

 

Done by: Mitchum George