The DA has called an urgent meeting with the President who is set to sign the BELA Bill into law at the end of this week. Picture: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The Democratic Alliance has called for an urgent meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa over the signing into law of the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill.
DA leader John Steenhuisen has warned that if Ramaphosa proceeds with the signing, he will violate both the letter and spirit of the joint Statement of Intent, that forms the basis of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
"During the negotiations, the DA made it clear that the BELA Bill was unacceptable to us in its current form, because it has constitutional implications for the right to mother-tongue education, among other issues. The DA urged President Ramaphosa to send the Bill back to Parliament for a few simple amendments to bring it in line with the Constitution," Steenhuisen said in a statement.
He added that despite this, and in violation of the provisions of the Statement of Intent, the President seems intent on pushing ahead unilaterally.
"I have moved urgently to meet the President before Friday to re-iterate our objections in the strongest terms. I will also submit to him the simple amendments the DA requires, and urge him to use his powers to send the Bill back to Parliament.
"If the President continues to ride rough-shod over these objections, he is endangering the future of the Government of National Unity, and destroying the good faith on which it was based," Steenhuisen said.
The DA said the establishment of a dispute resolution mechanism must now be a priority to ensure that all parties uphold both the letter and spirit of the Statement of Intent, and that the ANC understands that they can no longer take unilateral action on issues that affect fundamental rights.
"The DA regards this issue in the most serious light, and I will convey to the President the destructive implications it holds for the future of the GNU," Steenhuisen said.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s has called for the Bill to be sent back to Parliament.
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