BELA Bill controversy explained: ANC-DA tensions, Cyril Ramaphosa, SA education
SMWX・2 minutes read
Dr. Seu Walsh analyzes the Bella legislation, tracing the history of school segregation in South Africa, from the Bandu Education Act to the Schools Act of 1996 and the recent Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. The Bella Act aims to prevent discrimination in school admissions, facing opposition from groups like the DA, with recent court cases highlighting conflicts over discriminatory policies and the bill causing division within the coalition government.
Insights
- The Bella Act, a recent and controversial piece of legislation in South Africa, aims to prevent schools from using religion or language as excuses for racial discrimination in their admissions policies, highlighting the ongoing struggle against segregation in education post-apartheid.
- The passage of the Bella Act has sparked significant political tensions within the South African coalition government, showcasing power dynamics between the ANC and the DA, with the latter planning legal challenges but facing an uphill battle due to the bill's alignment with Constitutional Court decisions and the ANC's broader support base.
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Recent questions
What is the history of school segregation in South Africa?
School segregation in South Africa was enforced through the Bandu Education Act as part of the apartheid system, dividing education based on race. This led to a fragmented education system until the Schools Act of 1996 aimed to integrate the various systems into one national system post-apartheid.
What controversial amendments were made in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act?
The Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, the most extensive education legislation since 1996, introduced controversial amendments, particularly regarding school admission policies. It aimed to prevent schools from using religion or language as pretexts for racial discrimination in admissions.
How did historically white schools in South Africa fare in terms of integration post-apartheid?
Scholar Crain Soudien's study revealed that historically white schools in South Africa were slower to integrate post-apartheid compared to schools for other racial groups. This disparity highlighted the challenges in achieving true integration in the education system.
What changes were made to Section 5 of the Schools Act regarding admissions policies?
Amendments to Section 5 of the Schools Act included making Grade R compulsory, criminalizing parents who don't send their children to school, and emphasizing that public schools must provide education without discrimination throughout a learner's school attendance. These changes aimed to address discriminatory admissions policies.
How did the Bella Act impact the coalition government in South Africa?
The Bella Act caused a division within the coalition government, with the ANC showcasing more power than the DA by garnering support from other parties like the EFF. Despite the DA's opposition, the ANC successfully passed the bill, testing the limits of DA support within the coalition government.
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