The Democratic Alliance (DA) has dared President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube saying the ministry belongs to it.
According to reports, there are calls for Ramaphosa to fire Gwarube if she fails to implement the Basic Education Amendment Laws (BELA) Act should clause 4 and 5 remain the same even after the consultation process has been completed.
The BELA Bill was signed into law on 13 September and Ramaphosa said government would not implement clauses 4 and 5 for three months pending consultation with organisations and political parties that oppose the clauses, including lobby group AfriForum and the DA.
DA DARES RAMAPHOSA TO FIRE SIVIWE GWARUBE
The DA says the Basic Education ministry belongs to it and has dared President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire current minister Siviwe Gwarube.
DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau told Newzroom Afrika that the Basic Education ministry belongs to the Blue Party and that no one will tell them who must occupy that seat.
Khakhau said the party has 100% confidence that Gwarube is fit to remain in her position. She hasn’t broken any law and hasn’t done anything that makes the party question her integrity and capacity to lead the Basic Education ministry.
When asked what would happen if Clauses 4 and 5 were enacted as they are, Khakhau said the constitutionality of those decisions must be tested in a court of law.
“As a constitutionalist party pro the rule of law, we will do everything in our power, even outside the GNU, to protect South Africans, including if we must use the third traditional arm of the state to test this. We’re not going to roll over and let it die,” Khakhau affirmed.
STEENHUISEN ISSUES STERN WARNING TO RAMAPHOSA
Meanwhile, DA leader John Steenhuisen also warned that firing Siviwe Gwarube over implementing the BELA Act would signal the end of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Steenhuisen said that during the three months of consultation, Gwarube met with members from Solidarity and the Presidency at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) after the union lodged a dispute.
Steenhuisen said this process is entirely separate from the consultation process, and conflating the two is misleading and factually incorrect.
“This was a mandatory process, in terms of the law, to prevent strike action arising out of the dispute. This engagement resulted in a settlement signed by the Minister of Basic Education, the Presidency, and the union. The fact that the Presidency has now distanced itself from this legislated process, which they were party to, is as disgraceful as it is confusing.
“As leader of the DA, I would like to make this point loud and clear. We support the process followed by the minister, as she was fulfilling her legally obligated responsibilities, and respect the outcome of the negotiations at Nedlac,” Steenhuisen said.
DO YOU THINK PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA WOULD FIRE GWARUBE OVER BELA ACT?
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