DA leader John Steenhuisen failed to convince his coalition partner President Cyril Ramaphosa not to sign the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill into law on Friday.
He confirmed meeting Ramaphosa on Wednesday to highlight his party’s concerns which include that the bill compromises the rights of children to mother-tongue education.
Speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on Thursday, Steenhuisen said: “That is why I met the president on Bela (Bill) yesterday (Wednesday).”
“I really hope that we can find a common way forward, but if the president goes ahead tomorrow, the DA will have to consider all of our options on the way forward,” Steenhuisen said.
By signing the bill into law, Steenhuisen said Ramaphosa would be violating the letter and spirit of their Government of National Unity statement of intent.
The Presidency had in turn warned against threats being made against Ramaphosa, the GNU and South Africans when there were disputes.
It stated that if Ramaphosa had reservations about the constitutionality of the bill, he may refer it back to the National Assembly, and that there was no provision in the Constitution for his decision to be subject to negotiation with any other party or individual.
But Steenhuisen said GNU leaders needed to respect the constraints and imperatives of their partners.
“Any leader that tries to ride roughshod over their other partners will pay a price, because the time will come when the shoe is on the other foot and they will need the understanding of those same partners in turn.”
He also said solutions should be found to aspects of the National Health Insurance (NHI) and the ability to deliver healthcare to all.
“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 important that we find common ground in this matter.”
Speaking to the media after fielding oral questions in the National Council of Provinces, Ramaphosa would not be drawn into commenting about Steenhuisen’s concerns.
“Tomorrow I would like you to be there when we are at the Union Buildings. So please come for yourselves precisely to see what we are going to be doing. I don’t want to steal the thunder of tomorrow,” he said.
Despite the DA’s unhappiness with his planned signing of the Bela Bill, Ramaphosa said he had not heard of threats to take the government to court, but the courts were final arbiters in the country.
“So anybody at any time is enabled and empowered to go to any court to have what they may perceive as a dispute arbitrated upon.”
Cape Times