The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to fully implement the Basic Education Amendment Laws (BELA) Act and says it has full confidence in Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s ability to introduce fit-for-purpose guidelines that will protect school autonomy from subversion.
Ramaphosa announced the decision on Friday, 20 December.
DA WELCOMES THE AHEAD TO IMPLEMENT THE BELA ACT
DA leader John Steenhuisen said the outcome of the negotiations in the Clearing House Mechanism’s task team is a win-win compromise that enables the BELA Act to be implemented without undermining existing constitutional rights to mother tongue education.
Steenhuisen said Ramaphosa’s announcement on the implementation of the BELA Act makes it clear that Gwarube, who is a member of the DA, is now tasked with developing regulations, norms, and standards that will govern the Act, including contentious sections around language and admissions.
Steenhuisen, who participated in a march alongside lobby group AfriForum and other Afrikaans interest groups against the BELA Act, said they have full confidence in Gwarube’s ability to introduce fit-for-purpose guidelines that will protect school autonomy from subversion.
“The President’s announcement that the BELA Act be implemented in full was accepted by all the parties involved in the Task Team (DA, FF-Plus, GOOD, and ANC) on condition that DA Minister Siviwe Gwarube issues norms, standards, and regulations to govern the implementation of the contested sections of the Act.
“This has been a gruelling process, but this outcome has illustrated that the conflict resolutions of the GNU can work if parties show the necessary goodwill,” Steenhuisen said.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE DA’S DECISION TO BACKTRACK ON LEAVING THE GNU SHOULD THE BELA ACT BE IMPLEMENTED?
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