Nolu Hlophoyi, spokesperson for DearSA, stated that the organisation is shocked by this decision, as it creates the impression that public participation was not adequately considered. “DearSA has been calling for public comment on the amendment act since January 2022. Over 6,700 people participated, and 89% indicated that they were against the implementation of the act,” she explained.
She added that 2,215 of 2,901 participants in DearSA's public participation survey on 13 September 2024 expressed the belief that the government is not giving sufficient attention to public input.
According to Hlophoyi, the decision to fully approve the amendment act is disappointing, particularly since the additional three months allocated for discussion were not used to address public concerns. “Public participation is the foundation of our democracy. It is the government’s duty to listen to the voices of its citizens and to take their input into account. Basic education affects every citizen in the country, and therefore public input on this amendment act should have been thoroughly considered,” she emphasised.
DearSA will be instituting a PAIA application to the department of education as a follow up action to determine where the public’s feedback was considered in the process that entitled president Ramaphosa to sign off.
“We hope that the voices of the public will truly be heard during the development of norms and standards for this process by the Minister of Basic Education,” Hlophoyi concluded. The Bela Act, however, has not yet been proclaimed in the Government Gazette.
Date: 23 Dec 2024
