Western Cape only province to oppose contentious BELA Bill
The Bill will now be considered by a sitting of the council for further consideration before it ultimately goes to the president for his signature.
Picture: Pixabay.com
CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape is the only province to oppose the contentious Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill that got the green light in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
The contentious BELA Bill overcame another hurdle on Thursday when the NCOP’s select committee on education adopted the legislation aimed at reforming the basic education sector.
The Bill will now be considered by a sitting of the council for further consideration before it ultimately goes to the president for his signature.
READ: Parliament continues processing the BELA Bill despite objections
Last week, the select committee on education and technology, sports, arts, and culture adopted amendments to the Bill.
These included empowering school governing bodies (SGBs) to determine language policy.
But the Democratic Alliance (DA) said while SGBs determine language policy, the Bill still places the final decision in the hands of the departmental head.
The committee’s Elliot Njadu from the Western Cape said the DA-run province was also opposed to the legislation.
"The Western Cape provincial Parliament confers on the Western Cape delegation in the NCOP the authority not to support the bill. It’s signed by the speaker of the Western Cape honourable Daylin Mitchell."
The Bill was adopted despite the objection. The Bill will go to the President after its final adoption by the NCOP.