BELA is a war on Cape people
Civil society organisations across South Africa – such as the Cape Forum – are united in fierce opposition to the deeply worrying Basic Education Acts Amendment Bill (also known as the BELA Bill), which was recently proposed by the ruling party and this morning (Tuesday) passed by the National Council of Provinces. This draconian piece of legislation represents a striking attack on the constitutional rights and democratic freedoms of every South African. The direct effect is the growing sentiment for greater autonomy for the Cape.
A preliminary report, which was recently accepted in parliament by the portfolio committee on basic education, shows that 78% of Western Cape participants reject the Bill. The Bill attempts to create a solution without solving any core problems in education. The centralisation of power away from the school community to politicians will replace the relative neutrality of school boards. Schools will be nothing but political assets.
“School communities, where parents are truly involved and where parental governing bodies function efficiently and optimally, will be hit hardest by the intended law and disempower communities. Our experience is that many schools in the Western Cape certainly have active communities where parents as part of governing bodies play an essential role in the success of schools, but BELA will steal these successes,” emphasises Bernard Pieters, Head of Community Activation at Cape Forum.
The BELA Bill is a thinly disguised attempt to stifle protest, criticism against the government and open discourse in schools. Through this legislation, the government will directly control schools and school governing bodies and therefore determine the agendas. It takes away from the core principles enshrined in South Africa’s progressive, hard-fought Constitution – including freedom of expression, language, organisation and much more.
“The government is currently trying to repackage a dysfunctional system by taking further power away from local communities. Centralisation has so far no success stories in the current government. It would be better to stop the process now and identify the problems rather than trying to treat the symptoms with radical ‘solutions’. This represents a disturbing deterioration of human rights in a nation that is meant to be a regional leader and a celebrated democracy,” concludes Pieters.
With this legislation, as with the NHRI Bill, the government is trying to strengthen its grip on public and private institutions. By forcing through this draconian legislation before an election, an election that the ANC is likely to lose, they are in fact fuelling the spirit of greater autonomy.
Cape Forum calls on all members of society, specifically members of the ANC, to call their leaders to order and hold them directly accountable for this legislation, especially before an election.
Get involved with Cape Forum today and help make a difference. Send an email to info@kaapseforum.co.za or join by visiting www.kaapseforum.co.za.
