SADTU issues President Ramaphosa with a letter demanding the implementation of sections 4 and 5 of Bela Act
As the deadline for consultations on Sections 4 and 5 of the Bela Act looms, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has sent an urgent letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa demanding that he puts these sections in operation by or no later than 13 December 2024.
If the President does not comply, the Union will take legal action and embark on industrial action.
In the letter, SADTU reminded the President that the Act was passed in line with, among others, constitutional court injunction to redress the imbalances of the past and facilitate the right of access to quality public education.
The Bela Act has not been challenged in any court of law for its constitutionality nor declared unconstitutional by any court of law. There was no lawful, rational, or constitutionally valid reason for not putting the two sections into operation.
SADTU believes the decision to postpone the implementation of these sections was purely for political expediency based solely on the objections of Basic Education Minister and her political party, the Democratic Alliance.
The process of the passing of the Act involved extensive consultation and took a period of more than 10 years. During this period, the DA participated in the process. Similarly, when the Bill was passed in Parliament, the Minister who was and remains a member of parliament, participated in the decisions taken by parliament.
We still maintain we do not recognise the bilateral agreement signed between the Minister and white non-representative unions, Solidariteit and AfriForum at NEDLAC.
We will not allow white supremacists to use the department of education to practice their racism. All schools must respect all laws and the Constitution of our country, including the right of our children to access education at any school without barriers created through language policies.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat