Gwarube: The president can hire and fire, that's his prerogative
President Cyril Ramaphosa has set a 13 December deadline for parties to resolve a standoff over clauses 4 and 5 of the BELA Bill.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube. Picture: EWN/ Kayleen Morgan
JOHANNESBURG - As the deadline over the contentious Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill looms, Eyewitness News understands Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has submitted her recommendations. It will now be up to the president to pull the trigger.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has set a 13 December deadline for parties to resolve a standoff over clauses 4 and 5 of the BELA Bill.
These clauses address the language and admission policies.
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Eyewitness News understands the minister is likely to have supported the implementation of the act but might have raised some issues linked to a lack of legal clarity in certain clauses.
The Sunday Times reported that the president was under immense pressure to fire the minister.
For Gwarube, the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) process was never about rejecting the BELA Bill but rather evolving into an agreement to address sections requiring legal clarity.
Gwarube, taking aim at Deputy President Paul Mashatile, told Eyewitness News that she was left confused by those who turned her actions into a political storm.
“The insinuation that somehow, I was seeking a backroom deal with Solidarity is frankly nonsensical. It’s mischievous.”
She also weighed in on rumours that the president is under severe pressure to dismiss her.
“He can hire and fire - that remains his prerogative. It’s just very difficult when you are not governing on your own to say, ‘We don’t want this person, bring us someone else.’”
Some in the African National Congress have told Eyewitness News it would be foolish to fire Gwarube, dismissing the talks as part of the succession battles currently brewing in some quarters of the party
The ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is set to meet this coming weekend.