John Steenhuisen the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) has moved to dispel suggestions that disagreements over the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, signal a possible split in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The DA, which is part of the 10-party GNU, has threatened legal action if President Ramaphosa signs the BELA Bill on Friday as previously announced.
Earlier this week, The Presidency said the BELA Bill amends sections of the South African Schools Act of 1996 (SASA) and the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (EEA) to account for developments in the education landscape since the enactment of the original legislation.
“The amendments are a response to court judgments that protect and give effect to the Bill of Rights,” the Presidency said.
However, concerns have been raised about the lack of detailed information provided to the public, with critics claiming there were “ambiguous clauses” in the BELA Bill that could lead to the infringement on parental rights, particularly regarding home-schooling.
Speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on Thursday, (12 September 2024), Steenhuisen said: “Our first instinct inside the GNU will always be to find common ground in the interest of South Africa.
“We have already proved this.
“We are working hand-in-hand with the ANC [African National Congress] on every initiative that will take South Africa forward, and there is a long list of overlapping policies we have agreed on.”
The DA leader added: “But what we will not do is shy away from conflict when we are confronted with serious and lasting damage to our country or to the Constitution that underpins our democracy.
“And so, for example, we do not believe the President should sign BELA into law tomorrow.
“Among other issues, we believe the bill compromises the rights of children to mother-tongue education.
“That is why I met the President on BELA yesterday.”
Steenhuisen warned that if President Ramaphosa goes ahead and signs the BELA Bill into law tomorrow, the DA will have to consider all options on the way forward.
He said in a multi-party government leaders need to respect the constraints and imperatives of their partners.
“Any leader that tries to ride roughshod over their partners will pay a price, because a time will come when the shoe is on the other foot, and they will need the understanding of those same partners in turn,” Steenhuisen said.
In another development, the agriculture minister revealed that he told the chief of staff in his office Roman Cabanac to resign.
Cabanac, who was appointed recently, has been labelled divisive and racist for his remarks on social media platforms.
