Lesufi accuses DA of playing politics amid battle over BELA Bill
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has described the picket held by the DA outside the Gauteng Education Offices on Tuesday as politicking.
The DA held a picket to voice its opposition to the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill.
The party claims the so-called BELA Bill is an attack on mother tongue education.
The BELA Bill proposes several changes to the South African Schools Act, including the transfer of control to the education department in determining a school's language policy, and curriculums.
It also wants to prohibit corporal punishment and initiation practices.
At a press conference inside the venue, Lesufi said he believes the DA’s actions are aimed at securing the Afrikaner vote during the next elections.
ALSO READ: DA claims BELA Bill is ‘school capture’ by ANC
“If there is a battle of the Afrikaners by the DA let them fight their battles there. If they think that their constituencies lead them, they must be seen to be pro-Afrikaans, they must be seen to be pro-white and reject non-racialism and even reject liberal views for convenience’s sake. We are not there.”
The bill will also see the department, and not a school’s governing body, decide on language policy and the curriculum.
The organisation Skoleondersteuningsentrum (SOS) also added its voice to those in opposition to the BELA Bill.
Sarina Prinsloo says the organisation believes that the bill takes power away from the school governing bodies.
#Lesufu Sarina Prinsloo from Skoleondersteuningsentrum (SOS) says the organisation has some issue with the bill. She says that some power that the SGB has, is being taken away. pic.twitter.com/qmPmk2RefS
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) July 5, 2022
