Cape Town – The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to delay the implementation of two sections of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act.
The union accused Ramaphosa of making the move for political reasons, influenced by the objections of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and her political party, the DA.
The sections in question would shift responsibility for school admissions and language policies from school governing bodies (SGBs) to provincial departments.
In an urgent letter, the union reminded President Ramaphosa that the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act was passed to address past imbalances and ensure the right to access quality public education, in accordance with a Constitutional Court injunction.
#SADTU issues President Ramaphosa with a letter demanding the implementation of sections 4 and 5 of Bela Act @DBE_SA @eNCA @GovernmentZA @PresidencyZA pic.twitter.com/KpERTymE3d
— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) December 10, 2024
Sadtu, which supports the ANC, has warned it may take legal action and strike if these sections are not implemented by December 13.
SADTU is threatening to take legal action against President Cyril Ramaphosa if he doesn’t fully implement clauses 4 and 5 of the Bela Act which addresses language and admission policies at public schools. SADTU spokesperson Nomusa Cembi says Ramaphosa’s decision was to please the… pic.twitter.com/wsB3HzlDLD
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 11, 2024
According to IOL, the union insists that the Bela Act, passed after over a decade of consultation, has not been declared unconstitutional and should be fully enacted.
Sadtu also rejected an agreement between Gwarube, the DA, and certain unions, accusing them of using the Department of Education to uphold racist practices.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi expressed support for the full implementation of the act.
“Never and never again that our children and our children’s children will be denied access to a school that is next door on the basis that they don’t speak “… a certain language that is called Afrikaans.
“We want to be equal, we want to promote education that is accessible to all, and people will stop us on the basis that they want the school to belong to their children alone,” the report quoted Lesufi as saying.
The DA, however, has threatened legal challenges if the sections are enacted, with its leader John Steenhuisen warning that removing Gwarube could lead to the collapse of the Government of National Unity.
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Picture: X/@PresidencyZA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
