Johannesburg – Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube is not attending President Cryil Ramaphosa’s Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill signing ceremony.
In a statement on Friday (13 September 2024), Minister Gwarube said “I have thus written to the President and notified him that, in the present circumstance, I cannot attend today’s signing ceremony until concerns regarding the Bill are rectified.
“I remain ready to serve South Africa and ensure that millions of learners across the country can access quality education”.
Minister Gwarube added: “Parliament must be allowed to fix what is currently wrong with the Bill so that millions of learners across the country can access and receive quality education for a better South Africa”.
Minister Gwarube’s party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has publicly stated its opposition to the President signing the BELA Bill in its present form.
The DA, one of the 10 parties in the Government of National Unity, has raised concerns about mandatory Grade R, centralised admission and language policies, as well as inadequate public participation.
Minister Gwarube said: “In the context of a Government of National Unity, it is essential that compromises reflect the people’s will.
“I have always and remain opposed to the Bill in its current form and have requested the President to refer it back to Parliament for reconsideration in terms of section 79 of the Constitution.
“I have also provided inputs on why this should be done.
Minister Gwarube said she has raised the following issues:
- The constitutionality of provisions on the implementation of admissions and language policies determined by the governing bodies of public schools; and
- The need for a phased approach to implementing Grade R as a compulsory and permanent feature of the basic education system based on the capacity of provincial education departments, public schools, and early childhood development centres to offer access to Grade R to all learners who require it.
