Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has urgently requested a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, which the DA opposes due to its potential impact on the constitutional right to mother-tongue education.
DA leader John Steenhuisen warned that Ramaphosa’s intention to sign the bill without amendments violates the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) Statement of Intent.
He urged Ramaphosa to send the bill back to Parliament for amendments, cautioning that ignoring the DA’s concerns could undermine the GNU’s foundation and erode trust.
DA Leader John Steenhuisen has moved urgently to meet President Ramaphosa to re-iterate the DA’s objections to the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill in its current form.
We will also submit amendments, and urge him to send it back to Parliament. https://t.co/aJi9Xdl6vX
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) September 11, 2024
“During the negotiations, the DA made it clear that the BELA Bill was unacceptable to us in its current form, because it has constitutional implications for the right to mother-tongue education, among other issues.
“The DA urged President Ramaphosa to send the Bill back to Parliament for a few simple amendments to bring it in line with the Constitution,” Steenhuisen said in a statement.
He added: “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.
“If the President continues to ride rough-shod over these objections, he is endangering the future of the Government of National Unity, and destroying the good faith on which it was based.”
The DA emphasized the need for a dispute resolution mechanism to prevent unilateral actions by the ANC on fundamental rights issues.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has also called for the bill to be reconsidered by Parliament.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
