By Johnathan Paoli
Tensions are growing amongst unions over the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act, with the new conflict resolution unit of the Government of National Unity set to sit for a third time this week to iron out differences, including those in the contentious legislation.
In some of the latest developments, over 50 Afrikaans organisations and more than 70 schools have declared that they will gather at Freedom Park in Pretoria, despite the venue application being rejected.
They are opposed to two clauses in the Bill that limit the decision-making powers of school governing bodies on admissions and language policies.
This weekend, the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union,which represents over two-thirds of educators in the country, warned that that progressive laws could not “be at the mercy of the DA and its deployee, the Minister of Basic Education”.
It demanded that the outstanding two clauses be signed into law now.
“We… call upon the Minister of Basic Education, MECs and the Department of Education, School Governing Bodies and school management to implement the signed Act in its entirety… with immediate effect. The suspension of the clauses was unlawful and must just be ignored.
“Admission policies and language were used to deny many to access some schools. They cannot be allowed to continue 30 years post the democratic breakthrough,” said Satdtu’s secretariat.
“We call upon Cosas (Congress of SA Students) and all progressive organisations to stand firm on the Act and prepare for a mother of all battles against white supremacy in this country.”
Trade union Solidarity and civil rights group AfriForumhave been at the forefront of fighting the legislation.
Asked for comment on Tuesday, Solidarity CEO Dirk Hermann told Inside Education that there were different negotiation processes.
“The first is at Nedlac between Solidarity, the Department of Basic Education and the Presidency. It will continue next week. The second is within the Government of National Unity, and it will resume this coming Wednesday,” Hermann said.
“The third is negotiations between the Solidarity Movement and the various political parties of the Government of National Unity. This will continue for the next two weeks. On 5 November, there is a massive march against Bela from the Voortrekker Monument to Freedom Park. Tensions are building from all sides as the three-month period expires on 13 December.”
Solidarity has called on Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie to intervene and ask Freedom Park to reconsider its decision.
As preparations for the protest continue, both sides are poised for a critical moment in South Africa’s educational landscape, with the outcome likely to shape future policies and community relations.
INSIDE EDUCATION
