Full Bela is 'no win' for DA

IMPLEMENTATION: ANALYSTS SAY PARTY HAS LOST THE FIGHT, BUT NOW STUCK IN GNU

- Marizka Coetzer

The full implementation of the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act has been described as a win for the government of national unity (GNU) but not for the DA. President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the full implementation of the Act on Friday.

This comes after he signed Bela into law on 13 September, but suspended the implementation of clauses 4 and 5 for a three-month period to allow for consultations with opposition parties.

Political analyst Piet Croucamp said the DA had lost the Bela Act fight.

"I ask myself the question; what would it take to get DA to leave the GNU? Well, obviously, it's impossible for them to leave, they are trapped because Bela is nothing they have envisioned.

They now have to hope on the minister to, in some or other way, come up with rather flexible regulations which the SA Democratic Teachers Union may go to test in court if it was compliant with the Bill," he said.

"I think the DA has lost this one. However they may spin it, I am afraid if [Gauteng premier] Panyaza Lesufi is happy, it means you have lost," he said.

However, DA leader John Steenhuisen said they had full confidence in Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube's ability to introduce fit-for-purpose guidelines that would protect school autonomy from the subversion of the Bela Act.