COSATU welcomes signing of BELA Bill into law as 'long overdue common sense'

CAPE TOWN - While the African National Congress (ANC)'s Government of National Unity (GNU) partners are opposed to President Cyril Ramaphosa signing the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law on Friday, its alliance partner, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), welcomes the move.

On Wednesday, The Presidency announced that Ramaphosa would on Friday sign the BELA Bill into law which it says “aims to strengthen governance” within South Africa's education sector.

But parties both inside and outside the GNU believe Ramaphosa is making a mistake by signing the contentious bill and should send it back to Parliament.

COSATU, meanwhile, welcomes Ramaphosa’s commitment to assent to the “long-debated” BELA Bill.

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Spokesperson Matthew Parks said the Bill contains what he calls “common sense and long overdue progressive provisions” that will help to protect the rights of learners to dignity and protection.

He said establishing grade R as a required part of schooling for all learners will help lay a stronger foundation for learners entering grade 1.

The BELA legislation will also see schools doing away with corporal punishment among others.

But the Democratic Alliance believes assenting the bill will threaten the GNU.

"The DA urges the President to send this bill back to the National Assembly for amendments but he seems determined to proceed," said the party's spokesperson - Willie Aucamp.

The FF Plus said the law is "ill-conceived" and will cause needless uncertainty and disputes about "clearly established rights and responsibilities" related to basic education like those of school governing bodies.