Latest news with #BasicEducationLawsAmendmentAct
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Minister Gwarube warns non-compliance with Bela Act will lead to legal consequences
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says she was working flat out to make sure the regulations for the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act were published in June Image: Supplied Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has warned that those that will not comply with controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act will face the full might of the law. Gwarube, who has yet to gazette the Bela Act's regulations, said there was a legislative framework on how the department's districts and schools should implement the new law. 'This piece of legislation is now the law of the Republic of South Africa. Anybody who does not comply with the law will face the consequence of not complying with the law,' she said. Gwarube made the comment during the question-and answer-session in the National Assembly when she was asked by EFF MP Mandla Shikwambane how she planned to address potential resistance for former Model C and Afrikaans-medium schools to use the admission and language policy to systematically exclude black pupils. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading She said the department could not change attitudes by legislation. 'We cannot legislate to change attitudes. Legislation for education accommodates all children from all backgrounds and language. Anybody who does not comply with this piece of legislation will find themselves on the wrong side of the law.' Gwarube stated that it was not for the department to worry about non-compliance. 'It is up to the courts, and if schools do not comply with the law, they will face the consequences. I am not anxious about it because, ultimately, we got a legislative framework the district and schools will know how to implement and people will know exactly what needs to be done and if they don't, they will face consequences of breaking the law,' she said. Gwarube noted that she was often asked when she will implement the Bela Act, which was passed last year, and three-month period allowed for consultation around two clauses related to issues of admission and language. 'As a constitutionalist, I approach implementation of Bela Act with respect for rule of law, transparency, and responsibility entrusted to the office.' She stated that the Bela Act was proclaimed on December 24 and was now operational. 'The only process left for us to do as the department is to develop regulations. The development of regulations does not delay the implementation of the law because the law is in force. 'This has nothing to do with me and my preferences. I am busy working flat out to make sure all of you will have an opportunity to comment on the regulation that will be published in June.' Gwarube said the department will train district officials to guide schools on implementation of the new legal framework. 'We will be assisting schools and the principals to implement it well. The guiding principle are the 13.5 million learners. 'I am not nervous and I am not anxious. I think we have strong legal guidance, hence it will have regulations attached to it,' said Gwarube She spoke against using Bela Act as political football. 'We need to move on. We need to protect our learners and schools.' Gwarube noted that the politics around Bela Act was not a pre-occupation among school governing bodies, parents, and children. 'The political choice around this piece of legislation only exist in the political circles. People on the ground want their children to learn. They want them to learn in safe environment and it our responsibility as department to make sure that we provide good quality education for them to thrive.' Gwarube was asked whether schools were moving towards dual-language and about assistance offered for them to start implementing dual language. She said the provision for dual-language schools has been in existence before the Bela Act was enacted, and that school governing bodies make a decision when they were ready to become dual-language and put the necessary processes into action. 'This process has been ongoing before the new reality. Provinces sit with this kind of work all the time. Schools come to provincial departments asking to be dual-language medium all the time,' Gwarube said.
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
SA's transformation laws can't be changed because other parties disagree
Babalo Ndenze 29 May 2025 | 13:36 FILE: Deputy President Paul Mashatile addressed the National Council of Provinces in Parliament, Cape Town. Picture: @PresidencyZA/X CAPE TOWN - Deputy President Paul Mashatile said that the country's transformation laws must be implemented and can't be changed because some parties said that changes to the laws that were passed by both houses of Parliament had to go through the same process. On Thursday afternoon, Mashatile responded to questions in the National Council of Provinces on a range of issues, including transformation and threats to social cohesion. Mashatile was asked whether he had considered implementing measures to ensure that the emerging attacks on the country's transformation agenda would not lead to further regression of social cohesion. Some of the transformation laws in question include Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and other redress policies like the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, which are being opposed by the Democratic Alliance (DA). But Mashatile said that the laws weren't about to change. "There are those who seek to undermine transformative pieces of legislation that have been passed, particularly by the previous administration. But the government is quite resolute that those laws that were passed by the previous administration must be implemented." He said that if any party wanted to make changes to the existing laws, they must go to the Cabinet before going back to Parliament.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Solly Malatsi's B-BBEE proposals are nothing new
The backlash against Malatsi's move says more about political point-scoring in the GNU than it does about the legitimacy of equity programmes. There is an interesting irony about the angry allegations that DA Communications Minister Solly Malatsi wants to bypass broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) rules to allow Elon Musk's Starlink to operate in SA. Malatsi's proposals are not only not new, they are an accepted black economic empowerment strategy which has the approval of the department of trade, industry and competition… and which has been applied to investments here by some of the world's biggest, US-headquartered companies, including Microsoft, IBM and Amazon. The equity equivalent investment programmes (EEIPs) cited by Malatsi have been in operation since the B-BBEE Act of 2003 came into force. The programmes allow companies to invest in skills development or black-owned small businesses, instead of having to sell shares… and earn B-BBEE points. ALSO READ: Transformation Fund offers second chance for inclusive reform That communications portfolio chair Khusela Diko seeming unaware of the policy implemented by her own ANC party is worrying – because it either means she is ignorant, or is trying to score political points against the DA in the government of national unity (GNU). In the broader picture, though, Malatsi's actions will be seen as more 'betrayal' by the ANC and others in the GNU who are as ignorant about EEIPs as is Diko. The DA is already seen as trying to undermine the ANC by fighting the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act and in pushing back vigorously against the expropriation without compensation policy. It hasn't helped that DA ministers like Siviwe Gwarube (basic education); Leon Schreiber (home affairs) and Dean Macpherson (public works) have been conveying the image of getting things done. EEIPs are in operation already, so why the big deal? The positive aspect about the concept is that it can bring genuine empowerment, rather than mere cadre enrichment. NOW READ: Transformation Fund offers second chance for inclusive reform
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Rupert in Ramaphosa delegation, 'spit in face of democracy'
South African golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are also expected to join Ramaphosa when he meets Donald Trump. The inclusion of South Africa's richest man Johann Rupert in President Cyril Ramaphosa's delegation to meet his US counterpart, Donald Trump has been condemned by the EFF. The much-anticipated and robust meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump is expected to take place at the White House on Wednesday at 5.30pm (CAT). South African golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are also expected to join Ramaphosa when he meets Trump. While Rupert, Els and Goosen will be part of Ramaphosa's delegation, it is understood that the South African billionaire and owner of Starlink, SpaceX and Tesla Elon Musk will not attend the highly anticipated meeting. 'Spitting in the face of democracy' While the EFF also condemned the inclusion of Musk, it's understood he will not attend the meeting. 'Elon Musk and Johann Rupert are two sides of the same coin. Both are egoistical businessmen who parade their control over the presidents of these two nations and both hold a considerable stake in both of these economies,' the EFF said. 'They are both racist to the core and are opposed to transformation and equity because it threatens their ill-gotten wealth and control over the political fortunes of the United States and South Africa. 'The inclusion of Johann Rupert in a diplomatic delegation is spitting in the face of our democracy, which has grown to appreciate the need for redress in education, health care and land ownership through the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, the National Health Insurance Act and the Expropriation Act,' the red berets said. ALSO READ: WATCH: 'Fear not' Ramaphosa says, as Johann Rupert and Ernie Els expected to join Trump meeting Ramaphosa optimistic Meanwhile, there is speculation about how the meeting will go, with fears Ramaphosa is walking into a 'Zelensky-style ambush', referring to the viral clash that took place when Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House in February. However, Ramaphosa told journalists in Washington on Tuesday that he was hoping for 'really good' discussions with Trump and his administration. 'I'm looking forward to a really good and positive meeting, and we're looking forward to a very good outcome for our country, for our people, for the jobs in our country and good trade relations and [normalising] relations between our two countries.' Humiliation Ramaphosa was not fazed that he may face 'humiliation' similar to the shouting match involving Trump, his deputy JD Vance and Zelensky. 'Well, South Africans are never humiliated, are they? South Africans always go into everything holding their heads high.' ALSO READ: WATCH: Is Ramaphosa in trouble? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls out SA ahead of Trump meeting
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Mbalula again accuses the DA of undermining the 'gains of freedom'
Fikile Mbalula says the ANC will continue passing laws aimed at deepening transformation, whether the opposition likes it or not. Image: X/@FikileMbalula ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has again publicly criticised the DA, accusing the party of working to reverse the 'gains of freedom" by challenging various legislation in court. The ANC and DA are part of the Government of National Unity (GNU), which was formed after the 2024 elections following both parties failing to win an outright majority. Despite their partnership, both parties have had public disagreements on several issues, including policy and legislation. The DA's challenges to the laws are seen as an attempt to protect the rights of minority groups and individuals, while the ANC views them as an attempt to reverse the gains of freedom. The DA has challenged several laws, including the Employment Equity Amendment Act, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (Bela), and the Expropriation Act. The party has recently won a Value Added Tax (VAT) battle against the ANC after they took the party to court following the tabling of the February Budget by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. Currently, in another pending case, the DA has hauled the ANC to court over the amendments to the Employment Equity Act (EEA). Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Speaking during the Duma Nokwe Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, Mbalula said that those who have taken the ANC to court were working 'overtime' to reverse the gains of freedom. 'It is clear, comrades, to us as the ANC, that the only way to overcome this strategic setback is to win the elections with an outright majority,' Mbalula said. He emphasised the need for the ANC to win the 2026 local government elections to mitigate policy differences within the GNU. Mbalula also emphasised the need for the ANC to get its house in order by committing to its renewal agenda. "Nokwe gives us a chance to reflect and correct ourselves. This process of self-correction is carried out through organisational renewal and rebuilding. We must acknowledge our mistakes and take steps to fix them," he said. Mbalula also spoke about the need for the revised Budget to reflect transformation policies. "Radical socioeconomic transformation must and will happen in our lifetime. It is our contention as the ANC that the national Budget must reflect a growth path that would ensure adequate absorption of the unemployed through economic opportunities for entrepreneurs and expansion of existing businesses," he said. On May 21 Godongwana is expected to make a third attempt at tabling the Budget. Both DA national spokespeople Karabo Khakhau and Willie Aucamp did not respond to a request for comment in response to Mbalula's claims. However DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille had previously responded to Mbalula's public comments, saying she did not think it was helpful to engage in a public debate on the issues. "I don't think it's helpful to have public slanging matches. We have each other's phone numbers if we need to say anything," Zille said.
