GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - It's been three months since the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill was passed in the National Assembly (parliament) on 16 May. A total of 223 members of parliament voted in favour, and 78 voted against the bill.

During this time, two days before it hit parliament, the vote was tested at the National Council of Provinces, where eight provinces voted in favour and one - the Western Cape - against the bill. 

Slight amendments were made which offer some improvements to the admission and language policies, but the DA maintains these still fall short of adequately addressing and resolving existing difficulties.

In a statement in May, the DA said it is resolute in its opposition to the Bela Bill and will continue to fight against the "archaic centralisation of powers championed by the ANC". The DA felt that the ANC wanted to rush the bill through before the national elections which took place days later, on 29 May, and they accused the ANC for using the bill as a tool for cheap electioneering.

What now?

Meanwhile, the country went through an election, which resulted in a Government of National Unity. The question is, what is going to happen with the Bela Bill?

Elijah Mhlanga, chief director of media liaison at the national and provincial communication department of basic education, was very brief in his answer: "It has been passed in parliament, and it has been on the president's desk for his consideration ever since. Nothing more to add."

He said the standard practice is that once a bill has been passed by parliament it goes to the president for his consideration. "The president decides what happens next and when that will happen. My comment ends here as I cannot speak for the president."

X marks the spot

On Women's Day, 9 August, Mhlanga posted a photo of Dr Corrin Varady, an education specialist and CEO of Idea, being interviewed on eNCA, and commented on Varady's statements. 

Varady believes the Bela Bill should be revisited to address concerns raised during extensive public consultations and committee hearings, reports bizzcommunity.com.

Mhlanga commented on X that Varady "is not an education analyst, he's a businessman in the education space" and said that Varady's views on the Bela Bill are problematic. "He misrepresents the focus of the Bela Bill. Either he doesn't know or he chooses to mislead people. He can't go unchallenged. We are available to correct him. In the meantime we need to respect the fact that the bill is on the president's desk for his consideration."

Mhlanga's comments were well received on X by many followers, while some were of a different opinion. (@031_Guy) posted the following: "Are you going against the minister, your Boss on this matter? ...clearly the president is reconsidering this bill. Watch and learn!" Another follower, (@BouwevanderEems), asked: "Did you receive instructions from your minister to post this?"

One follower, (@mzosatula), suggested the following: "Its simple President must refer back to GNU to be revised."

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