President says he can't postpone signing Bela Bill into law
The Bela Bill seeks to make Grade R attendance compulsory and tackle issues related to school infrastructure and the misconduct of pupils and teachers.
ACDP supporters picket outside the Department of Basic Education offices in Johannesburg on 9 May 2024. Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa said that he cannot postpone the signing of the Bela Bill into law due to political pressures.
Presidency Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed in a media briefing in Cape Town a short while ago, that the President will sign the bill on Friday.
Among others, the Bela Bill seeks to make Grade R attendance compulsory and tackle issues related to school infrastructure and the misconduct of pupils and teachers.
Magwenya said that no convincing arguments have been presented to deter the president from signing the bill into law.
"According to the Constitutional Court case in Doctors for Life International vs Speaker: the president cannot refuse to sign the bill for political reasons. The only ground up the president can refuse to sign the bill is constitutional reservations. This means that the president needs to apply his mind to evidence and submissions before him and make an independent determination on the constitutionality of the legislation."