The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the DA’s influence in delaying the recently approved Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA Act), an essential piece of legislation aimed at advancing educational reforms in South Africa.
Although the BELA Act was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September, its full execution had been stalled over contentious clauses—specifically clauses 4 and 5—until this past week when Ramaphosa finally authorised its implementation.
Clauses 4 and 5 of the BELA Act seek to amend important sections of the South African Schools Act (SASA), with clause 4 aiming to revise provisions related to school governance, while clause 5 mandates that the governing body of a public school submit its language policy and any subsequent amendments to the Head of Department for approval.
These changes are intended to empower school communities and streamline educational governance, yet they faced resistance from certain political factions, leading to months of delay.
According to EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo, the procrastination in implementing these critical provisions stems from President Ramaphosa's desire to appease the Democratic Alliance (DA) and other anti-black entities. "
“For instance, the DA has made it clear that they will utilise the process of drawing up norms and standards and regulations that will guide its implementation to delay its implementation for almost two years. This is to create a scenario where the DA can claim to its constituents that it has defeated the process of the BELA Act using its ministerial post,”Thambo said.
While the DA initially opposed these clauses, claiming that they dis-empower schools and fail to address pressing challenges within the education system, the party has since pivoted.
Following President Ramaphosa's green light for the BELA Act, the DA welcomed the latest amendments, asserting confidence in Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube's ability to produce effective guidelines that will maintain school autonomy.
This shift has raised eyebrows within the EFF, which questions the legitimacy of political parties reviewing legislation already passed through democratic processes simply due to coalition politics.
It comes on the back of a strong condemnation of the act by the DA ahead of the elections.
“While we support educational reform, we will not support a Bill that ultimately disempowers schools and communities and fails to address a single one of the systemic challenges that impede quality education in South Africa – overcrowding, curriculum failures, poor literacy and numeracy rates, dropouts, unsafe and unsanitary education facilities, poor quality teaching, and lack of resources.
“We also find it very problematic that the extensive public participation processes were nothing more than an expensive box-ticking exercises. Had it not been for the DA, thousands of email submissions would have remained unanalysed. The parliamentary portfolio committee on basic education’s ANC majority completely disregarded the bulk of submissions that rejected the BELA Bill and voiced concerns regarding its implementation,” the DA contended.
However, on Friday, the DA was the first to welcome the implementation of the act as one its own in Gwarube, who as the minister has been discharged with implementing and norms and standards which the EFF has cautioned that this will be used to stall its implementation.
"If legislation is passed and signed into law, what jurisdiction do some political parties have to reassess it in private?" Thambo argued, highlighting potential threats to South Africa's democratic framework and emphasis on rule of law.
In response to the surrounding controversy, Minister Gwarube has taken a firm stance, declaring that she will not tolerate attempts to weaponise the BELA Act for political gain.
"Much has been said about this piece of legislation, and at times it has regrettably been used as a political football," she acknowledged, reaffirming her commitment to ensuring the legislation serves its intended purpose in enhancing educational standards.
The Star