The Democratic Alliance has expressed serious concerns that an education bill, which President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to sign into law within the week, could jeopardize the stability and future of the current unity government. This warning signifies the emergence of significant tension among the coalition partners. The Democratic Alliance, which had aligned with Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) and several smaller parties earlier this year, did so after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority. This coalition was formed despite substantial ideological differences among the parties, and the recent dispute over the education bill underscores the fragility of their political alliance.
The bill under scrutiny aims to make several adjustments to South Africa’s basic education framework, focusing on areas such as home schooling, early childhood education, and language policy.
The Democratic Alliance has raised alarms that these changes could threaten the rights to mother-tongue education. They argue that the bill might undermine the ability of students to learn in their native languages, which they see as crucial for preserving cultural and linguistic heritage. On the other hand, the African National Congress defends the bill, asserting that it is designed to combat language-based exclusion. They argue that by addressing language policies, the reforms will help prevent discrimination that could be used as a proxy for racial exclusion.
The Democratic Alliance’s concerns emerged after the presidency announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to sign the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) bill into law on Friday. This announcement has intensified the debate, with the Democratic Alliance arguing that this move would breach the foundational agreements that established the current national unity government. They contend that the bill’s passage could have damaging effects on the coalition’s stability and future.
John Steenhuisen, the leader of the Democratic Alliance, has criticized the bill’s potential impact, describing it as a serious violation of the unity government’s principles. He has indicated that he will convey these concerns directly to the President to address the possible adverse consequences for the coalition.
As of now, there has been no immediate comment from the African National Congress regarding the Democratic Alliance’s statements and the implications of the bill.