EFF, MK Party say implementing BELA Bill undermines SA's legislature

CAPE TOWN - The two biggest opposition parties in Parliament say the legislature is being undermined in the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act.

Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the contentious education reform bill into law - but deferred two clauses for three months.

These two clauses relate to the admissions and language policies of schools.

But umKhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are crying foul - saying Parliament is being excluded in what is to happen next.

While Ramaphosa assented to the implementation of the BELA Act - it is yet to be proclaimed.

Signing the bill into law Ramaphosa delayed the implementation of clauses four and five, to allow for further engagement on the differences between parties.

But the EFF’s Veronica Mente says if the President was unhappy with sections of the bill - it should have been returned to Parliament.

"We are being undermined. Once we say do this, and you don’t do it, there must be reasons. He has all the right to say I’m not satisfied with the process or how you dealt with it, deal with it immediately as Parliament."

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Meanwhile, the MK Party’s Mzwanele Manyi says the President is pandering to the Democratic Alliance (DA).

"Should we now as South Africans expect all the laws that were passed by the sixth administration when the ANC was properly in power, now that we have this coalition with the DA, that we can expect the reversal of these laws?

Speaker Thoko Didiza has pledged to liaise directly with the executive over the process to be followed.

The matter is also set for discussion by Parliament’s Basic Education committee this week.