BELA Bill: ActionSA to Consider Legal Action if Ramaphosa Signs Bill into Law
11 September 2024
ActionSA is disappointed but unsurprised that despite intensive efforts by civil society, teachers, and political parties, the flawed BELA Bill will be signed into law.
If, indeed, the DA was in an equal partnership in the Grand Coalition, this proposed signing of the BELA Bill ought to have been halted. However, President Ramaphosa seems determined to run roughshod over the Minister of Basic Education, who is opposed to the Bill. Just this morning John Steenhuisen threatened to walk away from this marriage of convenience if the Bill is signed. The time has come to put their money where their mouth is and protect the interests of millions of children and teachers. Failing to do so will indeed confirm that they are prepared to forgo safeguarding what little integrity remains in our education system in service of retaining German SUVs and ministerial perks.
The Minister’s communicated intention came as a relief in July following the stubborn posture taken by the ANC in the 6th administration, who were hell-bent on pushing through the legislation which undoubtedly would only serve to compound the challenges by introducing a series of proposals that lack coherence and fail to align with the actual needs and realities of our education landscape.
It would seem that these protestations may have been ignored as the signing of this fatally flawed piece of legislation is set to be assented to by the President on Friday.