Ramaphosa postponement of BELA Act implementation runs risk of disrupting 2025 admissions – MK Party
While the process to implement the BELA Act has been set into motion, it appears not all parties are satisfied with the events that preceded Ramaphosa’s proclamation of the act.
FILE: President Cyril Ramaphosa engaging with members of the media following his Oral Reply to questions to the nation on various national developments during the hybrid sitting of the National Council of Provinces held at the National Council of Provinces in Cape Town on 12 September 2024. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has warned that President Cyril Ramaphosa's postponement of the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act runs the risk of disrupting admissions for 2025.
Last week, Ramaphosa promulgated the BELA Act after granting parties three months to find middle ground on sections four and five.
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The MK Party has condemned the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) process that saw an agreement over the BELA Act being signed by trade union Solidarity and representatives from the Presidency and the Department of Basic Education.
However, the official opposition said there was no legal basis for the NEDLAC process or the delay in the implementation of the piece of legislation.
While the process to implement the BELA Act has been set into motion, it appears not all parties are satisfied with the events that preceded Ramaphosa’s proclamation of the act.
The MK Party said there was no legal basis for the invocation of Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act that saw the NEDLAC agreement being signed.
It emphasised that NEDLAC processes had no competence to veto decisions passed by Parliament and called the process an attempt to undermine its legislative authority.
The party has, however, welcomed the president’s move but criticised the nation’s first citizen for the delay.