uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has condemned Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, saying her refusal to sign the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act revealed her as the face of resistance to transformation in South Africa.
This comes after Gwarube reached an agreement with Solidarity at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) last week over the Bela dispute.
Among others, sections 4(d), 4(f), and 5(c) of the BELA Act will not be implemented until national policies, regulations, norms, and standards are developed.
The sections address language requirements and admission policies in public schools.
In a statement, MKP said this was a calculated attempt to obstruct meaningful progress in our country.
“From boycotting the signing ceremony of the BELA Act to pushing a so-called "agreement" at Nedlac,” MKP said her actions aligned seamlessly with the DA's long-standing agenda to frustrate systemic change.
The party said it was rather alarming that with Gwarube and DA’s influence, President Cyril Ramaphosa was blocked from promulgating some of the sections of the BELA Act, a critical law adopted by Parliament to address the inequalities entrenched in our education system.
This deliberate sabotage is a betrayal of the millions of South Africans who expect their leaders to champion justice, equity, and reform, according to MKP.
“Clauses 4 and 5 of the BELA Act are transformative provisions that seek to dismantle barriers to equality in education. These clauses aim to ensure that African learners receive quality education in their mother tongue and promote a more inclusive schooling system for all.
“Despite this, Minister Gwarube and the DA have chosen to align themselves with reactionary forces, undermining the will of Parliament and the hopes of the nation,” MKP said.
The party added it was disheartening to witness an African leader actively working against transformation by aligning with a party whose history and agenda have consistently resisted the empowerment of the majority.
Furthermore, MKP called on Ramaphosa to stand firm against “these obstructionist tactics” and ensure the BELA Act was promulgated in full, without further delay.
IOL Politics
