South Africa’s historic Government of National Unity is feeling the heat as the two biggest members, the ANC and DA, remain at odds over contentious clauses of the Bela Act on the eve of the Friday December 13 deadline set by President Cyril Ramaphosa for parties to resolve their differences.
Ramaphosa set the deadline when he signed the Bela Bill into law three months ago at a public ceremony at the Union Buildings that was boycotted by his own Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, a DA MP who wanted him to return the bill to Parliament for further deliberation.
SA’s largest teacher’s union, ANC-affiliated SADTU is threatening strong action if the president does not sign the controversial clauses 4 and 5 on Friday, while the Solidarity Movement says that last week it reached an agreement with Gwarube and a representative from the Presidency to delay signing the clauses which deal with school admissions and language policy.
- Advertisement -
Those for the clauses argue that they promote inclusivity, while those against say they pose a threat to Afrikaans-speaking schools.
While the big parties’ inability to resolve their differences will seriously test the GNU and could trigger legal and strike action, Ramaphosa faces significant opposition to the law from other groups who feel they were not fairly heard during the public participation process. and that the legislation is unconstitutional.
- Advertisement -
On Wednesday a group of Christian and homeschooling leaders, handed a memorandum to a representative of the Presidency listing their concerns and demands regarding the legislation.
In the video below, members of the group, Marie Sukers, former ACDP MP and founder of Christian democracy organisation Voice to Parliament; Karen Oostrum of Pestalozzi Trust and Philip Rosenthal, director of Christianview Network explain their position before handing over the memorandum outside Parliament.
Sukers says there is an urgent need for Ramaphosa “to lay eyes on the concerns of parents and all the civic organisations so that on Friday the 13th these voices will become part of the consultations and that BELA not be enacted”.
Oostrum calls for freedom for home education and for “a place at the table to discuss the concerns of thousands of parents who are actually educating their children while there are tens of thousands of children roaming the streets, not receiving any education. every day”.
Rosenthal thanks people who have fought for changes to the law since it was first billed in 2017. He urges parents to “please keep on speaking up. It’s not a time to stop now. We have won significant victories and we are going to keep going until the rights of parents to control education are fully recognised”.
Please help us to keep on publishing news that brings Hope in Jesus:
>> Donate >> Become a Super Subscriber
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/gatewaynews100
COMMENTING GUIDELINES
You are welcome to engage with our articles by making comments [in the Comments area below] that add value to a topic or to engage in thoughtful, constructive discussion with fellow readers. Comments that contain vulgar language will be removed. Hostile, demeaning, disrespectful, propagandistic and off-topic comments may also be moved. This is a Christian website and if you wish to vent against Christian beliefs you have probably come to the wrong place and your comments may be removed. Ongoing debates and repetitiveness will not be tolerated. You will also disqualify yourself from commenting if you engage in trolling.
