Most parties in Parliament vote in favour of BELA Bill
Despite objections for overregulating and centralising basic education, the overwhelming majority of MPs voted in favour of the contentious legislation, which will now be sent to the president to assent into law.
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CAPE TOWN - A majority of parties in the National Assembly has voted in favour of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill.
The contentious legislation will now go to President Cyril Ramaphosa to assent it into law.
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A few amendments made by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) were adopted on Thursday before voting on the Bill.
After debating the NCOP’s amendments in the BELA Bill, members of Parliament (MPs) voted overwhelmingly in favour of it, despite objections for overregulating and centralising basic education.
House chairperson Grace Boroto read out the results: “The votes are as follows: no 78 and yes 223, which means the bill is passed.”
Before the vote, the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Bax Nodada accused the African National Congress (ANC) of bulldozing the bill.
“Yesterday [Wednesday], the ANC sacrificed the futures of countless generations for cheap electioneering by bulldozing the BELA Bill through Parliament.”
Economic Freedom Fighters MP Ringo Madlingozi expressed his party’s support for the legislation and how it criminalises anyone who prevents a learner from attending school. The Inkatha Freedom Party also voted in favour of the bill.