President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to sign the highly debated Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law on Friday, 13 September 2024, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The bill introduces significant amendments to the South African Schools Act of 1996 (SASA) and the Employment of Educators Act of 1998 (EEA).
While the BELA Bill has faced substantial opposition, the Presidency states that its primary aim is to strengthen governance within South Africa’s education system. Once enacted, the law will increase the power of the national government over schools, particularly with regard to school governing bodies. It will give the government the final authority on public schools’ language and admission policies, shifting control away from local school communities.
Since the bill’s introduction, civil society has voiced strong concerns. Dear South Africa facilitated public comment against the BELA Bill starting in January 2022. The feedback attracted over 6 700 submissions, with 89% of participants expressing firm opposition to the bill.
"Public participation is the cornerstone of our democracy," says Nolu Maki, spokesperson for DearSA. "For millennia, democracy has meant that power resides with the people. It is the government’s duty to represent its citizens and heed their concerns."
Despite the overwhelming public sentiment against the BELA Bill, President Ramaphosa’s decision to sign it into law suggests a disregard for the voices of ordinary South Africans. Many are questioning whether their input has been sufficiently considered.
In response, DearSA has launched a final campaign urging the public to voice their concerns by 13 September 2024. “By signing this bill into law, the government risks undermining the importance of public participation in South Africa’s democratic process,” Maki adds. “If the people's voices continue to be ignored without consequence, the very essence of our democracy may be at stake.”
DearSA calls on citizens to make their voices heard before this crucial law is enacted. In a democracy, every voice matters. Take action now to protect the future of public participation in South Africa.
Click here to have your say.
