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The Citizen
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Bela Act guidelines issued, minister accused of ‘worthless' delays
Guidelines for the Bela Act were issued on Thursday, but no regulations have been gazetted by Minister Siviwe Gwarube. The legal fortitude of a set of guidelines issued by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube is under scrutiny. An announcement on regulations governing the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act has been pending, but the minister chose a different option last week. The minister issued guidelines on the Bela Act on Thursday; however, these guidelines have not been gazetted, as would be the procedure for regulations governing legislation. Disputed Bela Act sections President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Bela Act in September 2024, which amended certain sections of the South African Schools Act of 1996. Sections covering language and admissions policies were hotly contested, but Gwarube's guidelines reiterate that language and admission policies remain under School Governing Body (SGB) control. Anti-Bela Act Protestors were adamant that section 4 and 5 of the Bela Act would give education department officials undue control over schools by mandating schools to have their language and admission policies pre-approved by government. In the guidelines, Gwarube states that the document was approved after consultation with the Council of Education Ministers and instructed its distribution to all education administrators. The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) was unhappy, accusing Gwarube of attempting to create confusion around sections 4 and 5 of the Bela Act and delaying the release of the full regulations. 'The law is clear that the minister is only allowed to make regulations, not guidelines, in terms of the Bela Act, and that is the very reason that Sadtu rejected these guidelines in the first place,' the union stated on Friday. 'Sadtu are adamant that the guidelines are worthless. We are well aware of their tactics trying to halt [the Bela Act's] full implementation. 'We call on all our members who serve in the SGBs across the country to ignore these unlawful guidelines and demand for the implementation of the regulations,' the union concluded. Language and admissions The guidelines stipulate that language policy should be determined with pupils' best interests in mind, while considering the offerings at other schools and optimal use of classrooms and resources. On admissions, the guidelines advise that if a provincial department wishes to force a school to change policy, the department must allow the SGB an opportunity to dispute and discuss the change. 'The exercise of such authority must always be rational and informed only by all relevant factors,' state the guidelines. Gwarube's guidelines urge all parties to operate responsibly and in good faith to avoid litigation, adding that early planning was necessary. 'SGBs of public schools are strongly encouraged to take proactive measures as early as possible in the 2025 school year to ensure that their language policies comply with the requirements of section 6(5) of the SA Schools Act,' state Gwarube's guidelines. The Western Cape's online admission window closed in April, and the Gauteng Department of Education's (GDE) online admissions window runs from 24 July to 29 August. GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona recently told The Citizen that if the guidelines necessitated any changes to their system, it would be communicated to the public, but he referred specific questions on the guidelines to the national department. Questions on the guidelines and the gazetting of regulations were sent to the Department of Basic Education, but no response had been received at the time of publication. 'Heat under the pot' The Afrikaans community has been the most vocal about the Bela Act and their belief that it would be used to hijack Afrikaans-only schools. Wynand Boshoff, Freedom Front Plus (FF+) parliamentarian, welcomed restraints being placed on government officials who wished to meddle in schools' affairs. 'As long as these guidelines remain in effect, an HoD [head of department ] will not have the authority to suddenly intervene in a school's affairs without thorough consultation and reasonable consideration,' stated Boshoff. He explained that the guidelines applied to the norms and standards, but warned that a future minister could make alterations at their discretion. 'The FF+ remains cautious as the heat under the pot in which the frogs are being boiled has only been turned down ever so slightly. 'Ultimately, the pot is still on the stove. The Freedom Front Plus remains fully committed to self-determination in education,' Boshoff concluded. NOW READ: Full implementation of Bela Act bruises DA's ego
News24
11-06-2025
- General
- News24
Overcrowding crisis in classrooms hits Madikoloshe Malepe Secondary School in Limpopo
Parents in Limpopo province have reached their breaking point, threatening to halt all classes at Madikoloshe Malepe Secondary School as extreme overcrowding combines with plummeting academic performance to create an educational crisis. 'We have no choice but to take drastic action,' says David Mokoena, School Governing Body Chairperson. 'The entire situation is costing our children their future, and we cannot allow it to continue any longer.' The school, located in Praktiseer outside Burgersfort, has become emblematic of South Africa's education infrastructure challenges. Grade 8 classrooms currently accommodate an astounding 124 learners, while Grade 9 classrooms hold 109 students—far exceeding educational best practices. Teachers report being unable to move through classrooms to provide individual attention, while many students lack basic desk space. The overcrowding has worsened as enrollment increased by approximately 100 new students. 'Some learners don't even have desks,' Mokoena explains. 'Teachers cannot walk around the classroom to check work or provide guidance. How can learning happen in these conditions?' Adding to the frustration, Madikoloshe Malepe is among 1,000 schools nationwide selected to pilot the General Education Certificate program based on South Africa's Three Stream Model. This innovative approach aims to prepare learners for careers as lawyers, builders, doctors, thinkers, organizers, or influencers through vocational, occupational, and academic pathways. According to education experts, South Africa's Three Stream Model represents a significant educational reform, dividing learning into academic, technical vocational, and technical occupational streams to better prepare students for diverse career paths. However, the severe resource constraints at Madikoloshe Malepe undermine these ambitious goals. The crisis reflects broader educational challenges in Limpopo. Recent statistics indicate over 1,600 learners across the province remained unplaced at the start of the 2025 school year, while numerous schools report similar overcrowding issues. At Ketlane Primary School, for instance, some classrooms accommodate over 100 learners, creating nearly impossible teaching conditions. School administrators report sending 'countless series of letters' to circuit officials requesting mobile classrooms to alleviate the overcrowding. The poor academic results from the previous quarter have only intensified parents' concerns. Read more| Millions spent yet no road construction done Mosebjane Kgaffe, spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Education, acknowledged the situation: 'The department is aware of the overcrowding at Madikoloshe Malepe Secondary School. We have received requests for additional adhoc educators; however, the school is currently allocated 11 posts—a principal, head of department, and nine educators.' Kgaffe promised relief may be coming: 'After approval by the Head of Department, the school's challenges will be put on the priority list. Utilizing mobile classrooms will reduce overcrowding, and the request for additional resources has been given the necessary attention it deserves.' For parents and students enduring daily educational challenges in cramped, freezing classrooms, these promises offer little immediate comfort as their educational futures hang in the balance.
The Citizen
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Dunvegan Primary unveils new multi-purpose sports courts
Dunvegan Primary School officially opened its multi-purpose courts on May 24. The event was held in conjunction with the school's open day and its winter sports day, which featured soccer and netball. The school's deputy principal, Graeme Mitchley, said having an open day on the same day was 'great' for the parents visiting the school to witness all the activities. ALSO READ: Local sportswoman breaks barriers in cricket umpiring The school previously had three netball courts, but they were in poor condition. 'We've also decided to incorporate the official opening of the multi-purpose courts on the day. We were considering either resurfacing them or providing courts that could be used for multiple sports — that's why we call them multi-purpose courts. 'We also wanted a different surface to allow for various line markings. 'These courts are now suitable for netball, soccer, and hockey, and can also be used by the learners for PE during the day,' said Mitchley. The three courts will now serve multiple functions. Additionally, the previous netball courts didn't have fencing around them. With the new fencing, the courts now allow proper games to be played safely. The earlier courts lacked sides or netting, but with the new improvements, three teams can simultaneously play on the courts. Richard Laidley, the school principal, said sport at school level was crucial. 'It's about developing the whole child, not just one aspect such as culture or academics, but all of these together. Sport adds that extra element. 'The multi-purpose courts also have the advantage that even if they get wet, players can still utilise them. Grass can become too wet to play on, but these courts remain usable all year round.' ALSO READ: Saint Stithians' Saints SportsFest closes with a bang The revamp of the courts was made possible through school fees paid by the parents. 'I think it's nice for the parents to see their money being well spent. For me, the most important thing is that these courts will benefit every single child at the school, from Grade One to Grade Seven,' added Mitchley. The School Governing Body chairperson, Khakhu Muthaphuli, described the event as a flagship day for the school. She said this is something the school looks forward to every year. 'New parents who have heard about Dunvegan are curious and fascinated. They come to our open day, walking the grounds and asking questions. Sometimes I join in to see the vibrancy and curiosity. 'The school has a very good reputation — it is well-maintained and well-run, which we are very proud of,' said Muthaphuli. ALSO READ: Development rugby takes centre stage at Saints SportsFest day 4 'This day is very significant because we are also officially opening our multi-purpose courts. We hope there will be plenty of games, many memories made, and friendships built here. 'Across this whole field, there are over six sporting areas available, and we are very proud of that. As parents, we are proud of the teachers and management of the school, as well as our learners,' she added. She also thanked the parents for their contributions. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
