Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says she will implement the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act.
The Minister says, as a constitutionally bound Cabinet member, she will implement any requested reforms from the President. This comes after pressure was mounted on the Minister for her stance on the legislation.
In October, Deputy President Paul Mashatile was tasked with overseeing the Government of National Unity (GNU) clearing house mechanism task team on the BELA Act.
The GNU clearing house mechanism was established to address policy disagreements within the 10-member GNU regarding policy agreements and other disputes.
Gwarube says they are awaiting the announcement from the President regarding the outcome of the clearing house consultations.
The BELA Bill was passed in Parliament on 26 October 2023 and was signed into law by President Ramaphosa on 13 September 2024. During the public signing, the President announced a three-month delay in implementing sections 4 and 5 of the Act, which address school admission and language policies.
During the announcement of the delayed implementation of two clauses of the BELA Act, the President said if the parties could not reach an agreement before the 13 December deadline, the full implementation of the Act would proceed.
While South Africans await President Ramaphosa’s decision, several stakeholders have taken opposing stances regarding the position of the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), the country’s largest teachers union, strongly condemned the Minister’s agreement with the Solidarity Movement regarding the BELA Act, claiming it violates the law.
Sadtu argued that the delayed implementation of the language clauses perpetuates apartheid-era policies that excluded learners of colour based on language.
The union described the Minister's agreement as a "declaration of war" against SADTU and the African majority, accusing her of failing to uphold the Constitution and the rights of students.
Ramaphosa was forced to respond to claims that Minister Gwarube came to an agreement with the Solidarity union regarding the implementation of the BELA Act.
The President said any agreement between the Minister Gwarube and Solidarity union has no influence on the ongoing multiparty discussions regarding implementing the BELA Act or the President’s decision-making authority.
Several stakeholders have called for the Minister to be relieved of her duties.
However, the Democratic Alliance, of whom Gwarube is a member, warned President Ramaphosa that firing the education minister would effectively end the GNU
The ten-party GNU was established after the African National Congress failed to garner a majority of the votes during the 2024 General Elections. The .party subsequently formed a grand coalition government which featured a cabinet of ministers made of members of different parties.
The appointment of Gwarube to the Education Portfolio raised eyebrows as the DA maintained its opposition to the implication of clauses regarding language and admission policies in the BELA Act.
