Latest news with #Gwarube
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.
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- The Citizen
Education minister calls on all roleplayers to help stop kids bullying
The minister also reiterated her call for school governing bodies to enforce codes of conduct firmly and fairly. Seven pupils aged 13 to 14 appeared in court this week over an alleged violent attack on a fellow pupil. Picture: iStock Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has raised alarm over the growing crisis of bullying and misconduct in South African schools This follows recent incidents of young girls seen in a viral video bullying a fellow pupil and several claims of violent misconduct in South African schools. Speaking on eNCA on Wednesday, Gwarube stressed that school discipline cannot be addressed with punitive measures alone. 'These things are deeply rooted in our societies, and you are seeing this kind of violence playing itself out in our schools,' she said. Seven minors arrested Seven teenage girls, aged between 13 and 14, were arrested on Sunday, 18 May for allegedly assaulting a fellow pupil in Johannesburg earlier this month. The group was detained after a disturbing video went viral on social media showing the victim being attacked by her peers on 10 May. According to a statement from the Office of the Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Gauteng, a case was opened. 'A case of common assault was opened at the local police station. Consequently, the suspects were rounded up,' said Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo. The arrested girls have since been released into the custody of their parents. The police confirmed that the girls were to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday to face charges of common assault. ALSO READ: 7 teens appear in court after shocking assault video goes viral Bullying incidents under scrutiny Gwarube confirmed she has been in contact with the department regarding the case of the seven girls and is being kept up to date. 'We cannot allow children to go to school only to be violated. How can parents trust that their children are safe in school when other children are violating them?' the minister questioned. The minister reiterated her call for school governing bodies to enforce codes of conduct firmly and fairly. She also warned that teachers involved in corporal punishment, despite it being illegal, will face consequences. 'We have zero tolerance for teachers who still practise corporal punishment,' she said. ALSO READ: Discipline and learning collapse at Wordsworth High School Psychosocial support critical Acknowledging the shortage of psychologists in schools, Gwarube emphasised that psychosocial support must be part of the solution. 'Each of the 75 education districts has at least one psychologist allocated to schools in that area,' she said. In serious cases, the department deploys additional psychologists to offer immediate support. 'When we had that horrific sexual assault case in the Eastern Cape, we had to bring in a group of them,' she added. ALSO READ: Gang violence grips Joburg south as Lesufi fails to act, says DA Parental role essential Gwarube said parents must play an active role in shaping their children's behaviour. 'Discipline is not something that should be dealt with by just teachers,' she noted. 'Schools don't exist in a vacuum. They exist in communities.' She praised the Western Cape education department's efforts to involve parents and communities directly. 'I want to commend the MEC there for holding meetings with parents about school discipline. That's the kind of innovation we need,' she said. 'We have to show up for children. They're not born bullies. Many are children in distress,' she said. NOW READ: Over 500 school bullying cases reported so far in 2025
TimesLIVE
16-05-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Education department to ensure that no boy child is left behind, says Gwarube
Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube says her department will ensure that no male child is left behind as boys continue to face educational, emotional and social challenges. This follows recent studies on South Africa's systematic evaluation which showed that boys are constantly underperforming, have lower health knowledge and are more likely to drop out of school than girls. 'In our efforts to address the gender disparities, many of them rightly focus on the empowerment of girls. We have overlooked and left the boy child behind in our classrooms and more broadly in our communities and society,' Gwarube said. During the commemoration of the International Day of the Boy Child at the Thaba Tshwane City Hall in Centurion, Gwarube emphasised that in pursuit of gender equity the boy child must not be overlooked. She called for a balanced approach, one that uplifted both boys and girls, while reinforcing the department of basic education's commitment to inclusive, supportive and nurturing school environments. 'Let us write a new story for the boy child. Let us provide him with space to cry without shame, to dream without limit and to rise without fear,' said Gwarube. The reason boys were left behind, she said, was that society continued to cling to rigid notions of masculinity. From a young age boys were taught to suppress their emotions, man up and avoid expressing fear or sadness. 'A continent cannot rise if its sons and daughters are not growing together. A country cannot thrive if its classrooms are filled with disengaged, unsupported young men. And a community cannot flourish when its boys are burdened by silence, shame and societal neglect,' she said. Deputy minister of basic education Dr Makgabo Reginah Mhaule said that all children, regardless of gender, deserved attention, care and support tailored to their unique circumstances and challenges. Gauteng education and sports, arts, culture and recreation MEC Matome Chiloane dealt with the serious challenges boys faced in schools, including gangsterism, bullying and dropping out of school. He said a targeted anti-bullying campaign was being developed and that several schools had already implemented an anonymous bullying reporting system for both pupils and teachers. These efforts formed part of a broader strategy to support pupils through a range of dedicated programmes. The International Day of the Boy Child, celebrated on May 16 each year, is a significant event during Child Protection Month in the country. The day highlights the significance of boys' welfare and the difficulties they encounter while also honouring the positive contributions they make to their families and communities.
Eyewitness News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Gauteng ANC accuses Gwarube of delaying release of BELA Act guidelines
JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng has accused Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube of delaying the release of guidelines for the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act. The Department of Basic Education is in the process of drafting the regulations, norms, and standards that will govern the rollout of this controversial legislation. Although Gwarube has pledged to publish the regulations by the end of June, the ANC in Gauteng argued this timeline was holding back the act's implementation. ANC Gauteng coordinator, Hope Papo, said the sooner the guidelines were released, the better. "The minister of education from the Democratic Alliance (DA) is delaying in issuing the guidelines. We want the regulations to be issued speedily. That process needs to be unlocked at national level by the minister and MECs, so that we can get on with the implementation of the BELA Act." ALSO READ: BELA Act will be implemented whether people like it or not
TimesLIVE
13-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
United Africans Transformation calls on education department to fix schools
The United Africans Transformation (UAT) party has called on the basic education department urgently to conduct a full, independently verified audit of every public school in the country. The political party also demanded a focused emergency plan that addresses the most dangerous infrastructure failures, including collapsing classrooms, lack of water and electricity, and pit toilets. 'This plan must have clear deadlines and be implemented with urgency, not excuses,' the party said on Tuesday. It was commenting on a statement by basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube in parliament last week that '90% of schools are in fair to excellent condition'. UAT said Gwarube did not speak for the thousands of pupils still sitting in unsafe classrooms, walking through cracked walls and using broken, undignified toilets. 'She certainly did not speak for the parents and teachers in rural villages and overcrowded townships who are crying out for change. This is not just about pit toilets. It is about children being sent to school every day in buildings that are falling apart.' The party said it was about pupils learning in scorching hot container classrooms with no windows or proper ventilation. UAT said Gwarube herself admitted that more than 8,000 schools still needed proper classrooms and that more than 13,000 schools did not have enough toilets to meet the needs of growing pupil numbers. 'And yet, her department missed its own deadline to eliminate pit toilets by March 31 2024, a promise made to South Africans years ago. These are not just backlogs. These are broken promises.' The party said it was not good enough for the department to say 'we are working on it'. 'UAT believes that every child in this country deserves to walk into a clean, safe and fully equipped school not one day in the distant future, but now.'
