SOUTH AFRICA: GROUPS CALL FOR EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON "BELA BILL" [1] AMID CONCERNS REGARDING THE BILL.
Widespread public outcry
There has been a widespread public outcry against elements of the BELA Bill, [2] and more than 13,000 people have signed the Democratic Alliance petitions opposing this Bill, Alleged News. [3]
SAAPA concern regarding liquor
The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in SA (SAAPA SA) has noted with concern the inclusion in the BELA Bill of a recommendation that liquor be allowed on school premises, and at school functions on and off school premises, for purposes of fund-raising: Alleged News. [4]
This is regarded as an issue of concern because of the multiple risks this poses to learners at schools. [4]
The Basic Education Laws Bill (BELA Bill)
The Basic Education Laws Bill, also referred to as the Bela Bill, which is before Parliament's portfolio committee on basic education, calls for the amendment of the SA Schools Act of 1996 and the Employment of Educators Act of 1998: Alleged News. [1]
A section of the bill that proposes allowing alcohol sale and consumption on school premises by adult guests and not pupils during fundraising activities has become a contentious issue; Alleged news. [1] Part of the bill also proposes that alcohol be allowed in school halls which are hired for church or weddings and for functions held by the staff; Alleged News. [1]
Alcohol problem
Advocacy group SAAPA SA expressed that "There is a huge problem around alcohol in our country"; Alleged News. [1]
SAAPA Executive Director Maurice Smithers apprised that there are existing problems in schools around alcohol; Alleged News. [1]
Opposition to alcohol in schools
Executive Director Smithers said that the position of SAAPA and its 58 civil society alliance partners is that alcohol has no place in schools, Alleged News. [1]
"We call on learners, parents, teachers and other school staff, as well as community members generally, to voice their opposition, through whatever means possible, to the liquor clauses in the bill that will legitimise the use of alcohol on school premises and during school activities," Alleged News. [1]
On 8 November 2012, SAAPA was established at the inaugural Southern African Alcohol Policy Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa. Attending the forum were delegates selected from civil society organizations from regional countries Namibia, Malawi, Madagascar, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa, as well as organizations from Kenya, Sierra Leone, Sweden and Norway; Alleged News. [5]
Inkatha Freedom Party
Committee member Siphosethu Ngcobo from the IFP (Inkatha Freedom Party) also rejected the parts of the proposed legislation, Alleged News. [1]
Democratic Alliance concerns
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has several concerns with the BELA Bill, as well as with the method of calling for public participation, which the DA political party believes will disadvantage wide portions of the South African public; Alleged News. [2]
School admission policies
The Democratic Alliance opposes Clause 4 as the party believes that local communities should have the right to determine their own school admission policies, Alleged News. [2]
Power of determination
In respect of Clause 19, the Democratic Alliance believes that the power of determination of number of School Governing Body Members, and their Manner of Election at Public Schools for Learners with Special Needs, should remain with the MEC; Alleged News. [2]
Home Schooling concerns
Clause 37 regarding Home Schooling provides that parents of a home-schooled child must apply to the Head of Department to register their learner, as well as requiring additional assessments of a child's educational attainment up to the age of 15 or grade 9; Alleged News. [2]
A delegated official may also be required to perform a pre-registration home education site visit; Alleged News. [2]
While the Democratic Alliance believes that there must be accountability measures in place to ensure home schools provide quality education standards, the party believes that there is a need for greater consultation with the home schooling sector to determine their views, and to consider their concerns with Clause 37; Alleged News. [2]
DA "BELA Bill" submissions
The Democratic Alliance Party submitted comments on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, and encourages the public to submit their concerns to Parliament by 15 June 2022; Alleged News. [3]
African Christian Democratic Party
ACDP Member of Parliament Marie Sukers called for the home education sections of the proposed Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA) to be removed and sent back to the Department of Basic Education (DBE), in order for it to be redrafted, as adequate research was was not conducted into home education," Alleged News. [6]
WHY NOT SUBMIT A COMMENT
BY 15 JUNE 2022?
Members of the public can read the BELA Bill and related documents at https://pmg.org.za/bill/1055/. They can write to Parliament to say they don't want alcohol in school - belabill02@parliament.gov.za - or send written objections by 15 June 2022 addressed to Ms B P Mbinqo-Gigaba, Chairperson, Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Parliament, Cape Town and emailed, for the attention of Portfolio Committee Secretary Llewellyn Brown, to lbrown@parliament.gov.za [4]
[1] Concerns over bill allowing alcohol sales at schools, Alleged News
[2] DA. Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA), 2022 Public Submission of the Democratic Alliance, Alleged News
https://press-admin.voteda.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DA-Submissions-BELA-Bill.pdf
[3] DA submits BELA Bill submissions - Bax Nodada; Alleged News
https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/da-submits-bela-bill-submissions--bax-nodada
[4] Child Protection Week and the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill; Alleged News
[5] SAAPA Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance; Alleged News
https://saapa.africa/about-saapa/
[6] ACDP MP calls for a halt to proposed Home Education Law; Alleged News
https://www.acdp.org.za/acdp-mp-calls-for-a-halt-to-proposed-home-education-law/
With thanks to sowetanlive.co, press-admin.voteda.org, politicsweb.co.za, roadsafety.co.za, saapa.africa and acdp.org.za
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