DA federal council chair Helen Zille says the discussions surrounding the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act have been the toughest challenge the government of national unity (GNU) has faced to date.
She has cautioned that failure to reach a consensus could result in the arrangement’s collapse.
“There was [and remains] a risk that we cannot find each other, and that could result in the end of the GNU. It is also possible for rational people to find each other. There is more chance of that now than there was three weeks ago,” she said.
The contentious Act has sparked heated discussions among GNU members. In particular, clause four of the Bela Act grants a provincial head of education the power to override a school’s language policy, a power that school governing bodies currently hold.
The Freedom Front Plus and the DA have been against the implementation of these two clauses, while the likes of the ANC, Rise Mzansi, and Al Jama-ah have supported the Act in its entirety.
Zille believes that a faction within the ANC has initiated a “revenge project” against
Afrikaans, which “involves attacking constitutional rights”.
The ANC’s Mdumiseni Ntuli, however, says it is difficult to determine whether parties will find a solution.
“It’s difficult to tell [whether we will reach a resolution], but I am optimistic because I believe that concerns about the Bela Act emanate from distrust rather than incorrect policy
perspective,” he reiterated.
Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana says that all parties are working tirelessly to reach resolution despite the differences they have.
“The conversations are still unfolding until concluded. The discussions are held in an
environment that affords everyone an opportunity to state their perspectives on
how best the Act can be implemented,” Gana said.
“There has been mutual respect among all parties; no hostility. We are all working towards a solution, and we will find each other on the best way to implement the Act as signed by the president.”
A meeting that was scheduled two weeks ago to further discuss recommendations that will be compiled for President Cyril Ramaphosa was not held. The deliberations were to continue on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, two weeks ago, AfriForum, Solidarity, the Solidarity Network, and minister Siviwe Gwarube revealed they had, through Nedlac consultations, reached a resolution, which will not require amendments for now.
A representative from the Presidency was also part of the discussions.
The settlement includes a resolution to stop the implementation of the Bela Act on December 13.
The goal is to develop national policies and regulations to prevent schools operating at full capacity from receiving instructions to change their language and admission policy.
Ramaphosa signed the Bela Act into law on September 13 but announced that he would be suspending the implementation of the two specific clauses for a three-month consultation period.
