Signing BELA Bill into law ‘will test GNU’s resilience’
A political analyst has warned that the signing of the BELA Bill into law will test the resilience of the government of national unity.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to sign the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill into law at the Union Buildings on Friday.
Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen has warned that the signing of the bill would see the party “consider all options to move forward”.
The bill proposes several changes to the South African Schools Act, including transferring control to the Basic Education Department to determine a school's language policies and curriculums.
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.
The DA wants the president to send the bill back to the National Assembly for amendments.
The University of South Africa’s Professor Dirk Kotze says it is important for the GNU to present a united front.
"I don't think it’s either a make-or-break situation. It will definitely place a lot of pressure on the coalition, and it will undermine the sense of trust that exists amongst political parties and that they have a common purpose in what they are doing.
"The GNU is more than the BELA Act. It is a very important symbolic component now. There are many other aspects about governing together in the government of national unity, which goes beyond the BELA Act.”
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