Cape Town – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has urged the ANC to create an alternative structure to apply pressure on the education department, now led by the opposition.
According to Times Live, Lesufi emphasised the need for the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill, which mandates the teaching of South Africa’s history in all high schools, to be implemented by next year.
Lesufi criticised Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube for opposing the bill and warned that she might obstruct its execution.
The Bela Bill includes measures such as reaffirming the ban on corporal punishment, making Grade R compulsory, criminalising parental negligence regarding school attendance, and requiring school governing bodies to get approval for their language policies to ensure they reflect community needs.
“We have to ensure that the reactionary department of basic education must know that they will never shelve that resolution to make history compulsory in all high schools in our country. We must underline ‘all’ — whether the high school is in Orania. They must learn our history and this must not be stopped by this minister.
They might have oppressed our grandparents and parents and succeeded but from today, they will never ever try to oppress the education of our children and our children’s children, never again! Thanks my President! pic.twitter.com/zYeXXXjKDs
— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) September 13, 2024
“This minister who failed to participate in the Bela bill may want to stop our children from learning the true history of our country,” the reort quoted Lesufi as saying.
Lesufi called on ANC-affiliated groups to form an “education alliance” to ensure the department is held accountable.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Bela Bill into law over a week ago, despite significant opposition from political parties and lobby groups.
Gwarube abstained from the signing of the bill. Meanwhile, her party leader, John Steenhuisen, expressed concerns that the signing jeopardised the government of national unity (GNU).
Civil society organisations welcomed the bill, which aims to address gaps in the 1996 South African Schools Act, Daily Maverick reported.
Critics argue these measures could reduce the authority of school governing bodies, but supporters believe they will promote equity and improve access to education, the report said.
Ramaphosa delayed the implementation of some contentious clauses to allow for further consultation.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
