OPINION: Why the BELA Bill?
Well-known letter writer 'Master Push' writes about the Basic Education Law Amendment Act (Bela) Bill.

• Raliphi ‘Master Push’ Xolelizwe from Chief Mogale writes:
The Progressive Civics Congress (PCC) is putting pressure on government to fully implement the Basic Education Law Amendment Act (Bela) Bill in its current format.
As a community leader, I decided late in the sequence of events to familiarise myself with the bill, and, especially the contentious clauses 4 and 5.
While I had intended to determine whether I was pro- or anti-the-bill, after reading these clauses, my interest changed. Why does the government need this bill?
The promulgation of the Bela Act, after extensive public participation and stakeholders’ participation throughout the country, reaffirms the will of the state through the people’s mandate, both Black and White, rich and poor, to continue with the redress agenda in education, which has a direct bearing on national building, peace, inclusive economic development, and prosperity of the country.
It must be emphasised that the ultimate promulgation of the Bela Act took almost 10 year rigorous consultation, internally and externally including members of public and stakeholders through the established parliamentary processes in a form of National Parliament and National Council of Provinces where in the country’s political parties including some which are now standing with pro-transformation formation.
In the parliamentary process especially the National Assembly and Council of Provinces, the elected public representatives as coming from their respective political parties, argued in favor of the promulgation of Bela Act in its entirely mainly because they held a strong conviction that Bela Act accelerates transformation and change in the education system and thereby realising the fundamental values of a constitution and Bill of Rights which are equity, redress and access.
The Bela Act was passed in the National Assembly, on 16th May 2024, with 223 votes in favour of and 78 votes against the Bill.
This is a major achievement for the 6th administration and the transformation of the South African Basic Education Sector after almost a decade of deliberation.
The next step is for the President to sign it into law.
Clause 4 of the Bela Act gives the Department of Basic Education greater control over admissions policy and Clause 5 compel the school governing body (SGB) to submit the school language policy to the provincial head of department for approval. The SGB must review the admission policy determined in terms of this section every three years or whenever the factors referred to in paragraph (d) have changed when circumstances so require or at the request of the head of the Republic as provided in Section 6 (1) of the Constitution.
Looking at the sub-section in question, it struck me that these amendments have come about because government has failed to provide quality education in black schools.
It’s because government has failed the majority, the black pupils in the township and rural areas. The same group that was discriminated against and disadvantaged under the apartheid regime.
After 30 years, the government has not turned around this situation.
The newly established civics movement (PCC), urge the coalition government to ensure that the implementation of these changes in equitable and benefits the most disadvantaged communities in our society. The coalition should direct the President to assent to the Bill without delay and respect the with of the majority of the people of South Africa as directed by the 6th Parliament Resolution.
Are you pro-or-anti the bill? Send us your opinion to krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za — Editor