President signs BELA Bill, clauses 4 & 5 delayed for public input

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill will go ahead except for two clauses.

The President says clauses 4 and 5 will be delayed for 90 days to allow time for public input from those who wish to contribute.

Ramaphosa says if no consensus is found within the three-month period, the Bill will be implemented in its entirety.
He says the three months should be used to have meaningful engagements with all stakeholders who are unhappy.
President Ramaphosa has signed the Bill into Law.

President Ramaphosa signs the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law at the Union Buildings in Pretoria:

Earlier Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced that she would not attend the signing ceremony. Gwarube issued a statement saying that she does not support the Bill in its current form.

Gwarube, a leading member of the Democratic Alliance, said she remains opposed to the enactment of the Bill. In the statement, Gwarube added that she has always, and remains opposed to the Bill in its current form and has requested the President to refer it back to Parliament for reconsideration.

She also noted that she has provided inputs on why this should be done.