{"id":803628,"date":"2024-12-10T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=803628"},"modified":"2024-12-10T19:21:31","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T17:21:31","slug":"the-law-dividing-the-gnu-and-the-clock-is-ticking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/803628\/the-law-dividing-the-gnu-and-the-clock-is-ticking\/","title":{"rendered":"The law dividing the GNU \u2013 and the clock is ticking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The two largest parties in South Africa’s so-called Government of National Unity (GNU), the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), are at odds over impending new school laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the deadline for finding common ground around the contentious clauses relating to language and admission policies fast approaching, some are sceptical if the negotiations will yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October 2023, while the ANC retained its majority, the National Assembly passed the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, which amends the South African Schools and Employment of Educators Acts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the bill was not signed into law by the President during the sixth administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the May 2024 elections, the ANC lost its three-decade-long majority, securing about 40% of the vote. It then formed a co-governing agreement with ten diverse political parties, including its long-time official opposition, the DA, labelling it a GNU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GNU parties represented in Parliament. Graphic: Seth Thorne<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While numerous provisions have been welcomed, like criminalising not sending children to school, the BELA Bill, particularly clauses 4 and 5, has faced strong opposition from groups like Solidarity, AfriForum, the DA, and VF Plus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clause 4 expands the education department’s control over school admissions, even without proper documentation, while Clause 5 requires school governing bodies to submit language policies for provincial approval, considering local demographics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proponents argue this promotes inclusivity by allowing more children who were unable to get admission to a school based on language policies, but opponents claim it centralises decision-making, weakens school autonomy, and potentially ‘marginalises’ Afrikaans-speaking schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite calls from partners within the GNU, the DA, and FF Plus to reconsider the Bill, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the BELA Act into law on 13 September 2024, with the notable absence of the Minister of Basic Education, the DA’s Siviwe Gwarube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he delayed the implementation of the controversial clauses by three months to allow further consultations while the rest of the Bill proceeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ramaphosa signs BELA school changes into law \u2013 but throws critics a bone<\/a><\/blockquote>