'There's a responsibility that comes with being Education Minister' - Chiloane on Gwarube and BELA Bill
During a Sunday media briefing on his department's school placement readiness, Education MEC Matome Chiloane said as a province, they were happy with the signing of the BELA Bill into law and were already 'moving quickly' to implement it.
DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube. Picture:Lindsay Dentlinger/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Education Department says Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has a constitutional obligation to implement the newly signed BELA Bill.
Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa officially signed the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) policy into law.
READ: Ramaphosa officially signs BELA Bill into law
The bill introduces changes to the Schools Act of 1996, including making grade R compulsory for all children and transferring responsibility for school language policies to the provincial education department.
Gwarube did not attend the signing ceremony.
During a Sunday media briefing on his department's school placement readiness, Education MEC Matome Chiloane stressed that Gwarube has a constitutional obligation to implement the new law.
"She's the Minister of Education in South Africa and there's a responsibility that comes with that position, but overall, ourselves in provinces we are moving ahead, quickly, to make sure we implement the rest of the clauses and wait for that four or five clauses, the 90 days to come and see what happens. Obviously, will be guided by a leadership with regards to those ones and then we’ll implement, but overall we’re happy as Gauteng province.”