South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has stepped up to defend the resilience of his government of national unity (GNU), following a heated dispute over the recently enacted Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill. The bill, which has become a flashpoint of controversy, exposed tensions between the African National Congress (ANC) and its main coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA). Ramaphosa, addressing the media on Friday, reassured the public that despite differences, the coalition government remains stable.
The dispute centers on provisions within the BELA Bill that allow the education department to have a greater say in school language policies. This move has angered the DA, which argues that the legislation infringes on the rights of South Africans to teach and learn in their mother tongue, specifically Afrikaans. The ANC, however, sees the bill as a necessary step to eliminate exclusionary practices that persist in some schools based on language, an issue the ruling party ties to South Africa’s troubled history with apartheid.
A Controversial Bill
The BELA Bill touches on several key areas of the country’s education system, including mandatory pre-primary education, a continued ban on corporal punishment, and regulations around homeschooling. However, the most contentious provision revolves around language policies in schools. The bill gives the relevant government department the authority to approve or reject a school’s language policy, which, according to the ANC, will prevent discrimination.
Ramaphosa, speaking in defense of the bill, said it would address “longstanding challenges” in the education system, specifically around access to schools. The ANC contends that language policies, particularly those prioritizing Afrikaans, have been used as a proxy for racial exclusion in certain schools. This is a reference to the use of Afrikaans under the apartheid regime, where it was promoted by white minority rulers as a way to enforce segregation and uphold racial hierarchies.
For Ramaphosa and the ANC, the BELA Bill is a progressive tool to open up schools to all South Africans, regardless of the language they speak. The party insists that the bill promotes inclusivity and that it is vital to dismantle remnants of racial discrimination in the education system.
DA’s Strong Opposition
The DA, on the other hand, has vehemently opposed the bill, arguing that it infringes on the cultural and linguistic rights of communities. The party, which has long struggled to shake off its image as a representative of the white minority, sees the legislation as a direct attack on Afrikaans speakers, many of whom make up its voter base. The DA has framed the bill as violating South Africans’ rights to mother-tongue education, a principle enshrined in the constitution.
The DA’s concerns extend beyond the language issue. The party views the bill as a sign that the ANC is overstepping its bounds by imposing top-down decisions without sufficient consensus-building, a process the GNU is supposed to uphold. The DA has vowed to challenge the bill in court, claiming that it threatens the spirit of cooperation that underpins the coalition government.
“The DA sees this as a matter of cultural identity and constitutional rights,” explained Andre Duvenhage, a politics professor at North-West University. “The party has positioned itself as the protector of minority rights in South Africa, particularly for Afrikaans-speaking communities, which gives this legislation a heightened level of significance for them.”
Ramaphosa’s Call for Unity
Despite the growing tensions, Ramaphosa sought to reassure South Africans that the government remains strong. “We come from different histories and are driven by different ideological outlooks, but the government of national unity is durable,” he said, downplaying concerns of a possible coalition collapse. He acknowledged the DA’s frustration but emphasized that the GNU’s stability is critical for South Africa’s broader political landscape. “I have confidence in the durability of the GNU because anything else is just too ghastly to contemplate,” he added.
In an effort to ease the tension, Ramaphosa announced that there would be a three-month consultation period for the most controversial aspects of the bill. This would allow stakeholders time to discuss possible amendments. However, the president also made it clear that if no resolution is reached, the implementation of the bill will proceed as planned.
Broader Implications
The controversy over the BELA Bill goes beyond education. It highlights the underlying tensions in South Africa’s coalition politics, especially as Ramaphosa tries to balance the interests of his party with those of his political partners. For the ANC, the bill represents a push toward greater equality and inclusivity in education. For the DA, it is seen as a challenge to the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
As the debate unfolds, the outcome could have long-term implications for both the GNU and South Africa’s efforts to create a more inclusive education system. The DA’s court challenge will likely serve as a crucial test of the unity government’s ability to navigate ideological differences while maintaining the delicate balance of coalition politics. For now, Ramaphosa remains confident that the GNU will weather the storm.
