AUTONOMY, LANGUAGE, RIGHTS: FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION’S SUBMISSION ON THE BELA BILL
2024-02-07
The Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (also known as the “BELA Bill”) has sparked intense debate and scrutiny across South Africa.
The Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (also known as the “BELA Bill”) has sparked intense debate and scrutiny across South Africa.
The recent decision by the Legal Practice Council (“LPC”) to conduct all exams for candidate attorneys and pupil advocates exclusively in English has sparked significant controversy and discontent among various stakeholders.
The Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA Bill) was passed by Parliament’s first house, the National Assembly on 26 October 2023. It is now before the second house, the National Council of Provinces and is currently open for written submissions. The FW de Klerk Foundation expresses its concerns about the BELA Bill.
During 2023, Parliament considered a mix of positive legislation and legislation that falls seriously short of constitutional standards.
The FW de Klerk Foundation takes great pleasure in announcing that Khaya Lam, meaning “my home”, will be the recipient of its 2023 FW de Klerk Goodwill Award.
On 15 November 2023, Parliament’s second house of Parliament – the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) – passed the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill despite countless submissions from various stakeholders opposing the Bill’s clear curtailment of the constitutionally-entrenched right to freedom of expression. The Bill will now go to the National Assembly for concurrence.
On 15 September, the FW de Klerk Foundation made a written submission to the National Council of Provinces on the National Health Insurance Bill. The Foundation analysed key failures of the NHI Bill with specific reference to the constitutional principle of the Rule of Law and rationality, the feasibility of the proposed system and governance concerns, coupled with the unfettered power of the Minister of Health (“the Minister”).
Last Saturday, Julius Malema addressed a packed FNB stadium in Johannesburg to mark the 10th anniversary of the EFF. The scarlet-clad masses undulated to the rhythm of African music and the chanting of EFF slogans, while red and black balloons, confetti and streamers were discharged into the stadium. It was a cross between a rock concert, a soccer match and a religious revival.
On Wednesday 19 July, President Ramaphosa signed the South African Sign Language Act into law, a welcome step “to promote the rights of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing”.