DA ‘to consider all options’ BELA becomes law - Steenhuisen
DA leader John Steenhuisen says the party will have to consider all its options and determine a way forward if President Cyril Ramaphosa signs the BELA Bill into law.
Ramaphosa is expected to sign the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill into law at the Union Buildings on Friday.
The DA has opposed the bill, arguing that it threatens the government's national unity.
The bill proposes several changes to the South African Schools Act, including giving the Basic Education Department authority over schools’ language policies and curriculums.
The bill dictates that Grade R will now be the new compulsory school-starting age, and parents who fail to enrol their children for Grade R will be formally penalised.
Some amendments include penalties for those found guilty of corporal punishment - which is illegal at schools.
In terms of language policy, the bill provides that a school governing body will now be required to submit a public school’s language policy and any amendment thereof to the head of the Education Department for approval.
The language policy must also consider the language needs of the broader community.
Sign Language will also become an official language for learning at a public school.
The BELA Bill also bans the consumption or possession of alcohol on public school premises or during any public school activity unless permission has been sought from the Head of Department, and then only under strict conditions.
Speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on Thursday, Steenhuisen said the party does not believe Ramaphosa should sign the bill into law.
"What we will not do is shy away from conflict when we are confronted with serious and lasting damage to our country or to the constitution that underpins our democracy.
"And so, for example, we do not believe the President should sign BELA into law tomorrow. Among other issues, we believe the bill compromises the rights of children to mother-tongue education. That is why I met the president on BELA yesterday.
"But if the president goes ahead tomorrow, the DA will have to consider all of our options on the way forward.
"In a multi-party government, leaders need to respect the constraints and imperatives of their partners. Any leader that tries to ride roughshod over their partners will pay the price because a time will come when the shoe is on the other foot, and they will need the understanding of those same partners in turn," added Steenhuisen.
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