Analyst: Gwarube within her rights to not attend BELA Bill signing
Political analyst Goodenough Mashego says Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube was within her right to not attend the BELA Bill signing ceremony on Friday.
In a statement, Gwarube said she was opposed to the bill in its current form.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the bill into law at a public ceremony despite protests and threats of legal action from some quarters.
Ramaphosa delayed the implementation of two clauses that had threatened to fracture the government of national unity.
Amongst other things, the bill dictates that Grade R will now be the new compulsory school-starting age, and parents who fail to enrol their children for Grade R will be formally penalised.
Some amendments include penalties for those found guilty of corporal punishment - which is illegal at schools.
"Minister Gwarube showed the President that even though she is a minister in the cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa, she is not willing to compromise on her principles," says Mashego.
"Because it would have been hypocritical to criticise the BELA Bill before elections but now change her tune when she is in the cabinet."
Mashego says the DA should find ways of involving the public in its decision making processes.
"I think the mistake that the DA is making this time around, it is saying it objects the BELA Bill but it is not educating people on what is wrong with the bill. Most people are not sympathetic when it comes to the DA because they do not know what is wrong with the BELA Bill. So, the DA must go out there and embark on the educational trial".
The DA has reiterated that it will continue to legally oppose the implementation of some of the policies in the bill if no compromise is found.
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