Cape Town - With all eyes on President Cyril Ramaphosa as he is expected to sign the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill into law today, DA party leader John Steenhuisen says they will not hesitate to approach the court to challenge Ramaphosa.
Steenhuisen addressed the Cape Town Press Club in Newlands yesterday, on the party’s role in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Steenhuisen said the DA was opposed to Ramaphosa signing the bill during a ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria today.
“Among other issues, we believe the bill compromises the rights of children to mother-tongue education.
“That is why I met the president (on Wednesday). But if (he) goes ahead, the DA will have to consider all of our options.
“In a multi-party government, leaders need to respect the constraints and imperatives of their partners.
“Any leader that tries to ride roughshod over their partners will pay a price, because a time will come when the shoe is on the other foot, and they will need the understanding of those same partners in turn.
“The same applies to the NHI (National Health Insurance). Our first instinct is to find solutions to the aspects of the NHI plan that will do lasting damage to South Africa, and our ability to deliver health care to all.”
Among others, amendments to the Bela Bill places the power to determine a school’s language and admission policy in the hands of the provincial departments of education, instead of school governing bodies.
Steenhuisen said the DA planned to approach the courts regarding bills which the party disagreed with, but would remain committed to the GNU.
“If we can find those solutions collaboratively, we would be delighted. If we can’t, we will pursue the interests of the South African people through every other legal means at our disposal.
“It is of critical importance to understand that conflict over policy in a multi-party government like the GNU is normal and indeed necessary in a democracy. And it is not necessarily an existential threat to the government.
“Let me say that again: conflict over policy in the GNU is not necessarily an existential threat to the government. But that doesn’t mean the DA will never walk away under any circumstances. I set out earlier our view that the bottom line for the DA is an economy that grows and creates jobs. If the GNU can’t do that, there is no point being part of it.”
Steenhuisen said that walking away from the GNU would be “handing the country to the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the EFF.
“If you think mother tongue and language rights are at risk now, I can tell you once the MKP, Mr Hlophe and the Zuma family and the EFF are in charge of the government, I would see Afrikaans probably struck off as an official language if they had their way.
“The EFF refuses to sing Die Stem, they have little sympathy with Afrikaans.”
When asked about the devolution of policing powers and railway, Steenhuisen said the party would table that at a later stage, but said there was a written submission on it.