ATC240502: Report of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts, and Culture on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B2B – 2022], dated 02 May 2024

NCOP Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture

Report of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts, and Culture on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B2B – 2022], dated 02 May 2024.

The Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts, and Culture (the Committee), having considered the subject of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 2B -2022] (National Assembly – Sec 76); referred to it as a section 76 Bill, reports as follows:

Introduction

The draft Bill proposes to amend the South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996), and the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (Act No. 76 of 1898) (the SASA and the EEA, respectively), so as to align them with developments in the education landscape. This is to ensure that systems of learning and excellence in education are put in place in a manner which respects, protects, promotes and fulfils the right to basic education enshrined in section 29(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Certain technical and substantive adjustments are also made to the SASA and the EEA. This is to clarify certain existing provisions and to insert certain provisions to cover matters which are not provided for in the existing legislation.

The Select Committees process followed in processing the Bill.

On the 26^th of October 2023, the National Assembly Passed the BELA Bill, which was subsequently referred to the National Council of Provinces. On the 08^th of November 2023 the Department of Basic Education (DBE) presented the BELA Bill [B2B-2022] to the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts, and Culture. The parliamentary legal services provided a legal framework on the processing of the Bill. On the 13^th of November the Bill was referred to the nine provinces in the country to allow for them to conduct their public participation process on the Bill until the 15^th of February. The Select Committee conducted its own public participation process by calling for submissions by all interested parties on the Bill from the 20^th of November 2023 until the 19^th of January 2024. On the 15^th of January various stakeholders and NGOs sent written requests for an extension in making submissions. An extension was granted. The deadline for written submissions was extended to the 31^st of January 2024. On Friday the 2^nd of February 2024, the committee secretary delivered an update on the progress of provinces in terms of public participation. Occurring after the Western Cape provincial legislature requested for an extension until the end of April 2024 to conduct their public hearings on the BELA Bill. The Select Committee however, issued an extension to all provinces to conclude their public participation process by the 29^th of February 2024. In the Select Committees call for written submissions, a total of 38 170 submissions were received and analysed. Upon analysing the written submissions to the Select Committee, about 32 organisations requested to make additional oral submissions to the committee, of which the request was granted. From the 06 to 08 March 2024, the Select Committee held oral hearings with all 32 organisations on a virtual platform. The organisations that made oral submissions were as follow:

AfriForum
Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA)
SA Onderwysersunie (SAOU)
Concerned Young People of South Africa (CYPSA)
Western Cape Forum for Intellectual Disability (WCFID)
Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS)
South African Education Development Trust (SAAOT)
ActionSA
FW de Klerk Foundation
Solidarity
Equal Education and Equal Education Law Centre
Centre for Child Law
South African Institute of Race Relations NPC (IRR)
Fathers 4 Justice South Africa
Association for Homeschooling
Gauteng Association for Homeschooling
Skole Ondersteuning Sentrum (SOS)
Hoer Landsbou Skool Jacobsdal
Pestalozzi Trust
Christian View Network
Cape Home Educators
Selborne Primary School SGB
Laerskool Laeveld SGB
Northcliff High School SGB
Independent Micro Schools / Education First Research Group
Section27
Learning Kat Remedial Teaching
Learn Free
Home School Association South Africa (HSSA)
Let’s do it 2gether 4 EDUCATION
The Cape Forum
Ms Tanya Furniss (Private)

On the 13^th of March 2024, the Select Committee held a meeting where the committee report from the written and oral submissions was considered and adopted by the committee. On the 20^th of March the committee received a response from the DBE on the issues raised during the submissions in the committee’s report.

The Negotiating Mandates

On the 27^th of March 2024, the committee convened a meeting to receive the provincial negotiating mandates of the BELA Bill, whereby eight of the nine provinces voted in favour of the Bill.

The following reflects the vote of the provincial legislatures in respect of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B2B-2022]

Province	In Support/ Not in Support
Gauteng	In Support
North West	In Support
Eastern Cape	In Support
Western Cape	Not in Support
Free State	In Support
Northern Cape	In Support
Mpumalanga	In Support
Kwa-Zulu Natal	In Support
Limpopo	In Support

The Eastern Cape Legislature supported the Bill but proposed amendments to several clauses to strengthen the provisions. Some of the proposed amendments dealt with monitoring learner attendance, effective search and seizure at schools, training provided to School Governing Bodies, and empowering the Minister to make regulations on learner disciplining methods that are alternatives to the abolished corporal punishment.

Deliberations on the Clause-by-Clause

From the 17^thof April 2024, the Parliamentary Legal Advisor presented a detailed analysis of the constitutional provisions related to education rights. Focusing on the state's obligations to ensure access to basic education and the right to establish Independent Educational Institutions. The need for compliance with international laws and treaties was emphasized. Including the implications of the proposed Amendment Bill on existing legislation and education policies. A detailed explanation of the constitutional obligations and rights related to public engagement, emphasizing the role of legislatures in facilitating public involvement and considering public views in the legislative process was provided. The legal advisor further distinguished between facilitated public engagement and referendums, highlighting the different purposes and processes involved in each. The legal advisor also referred to specific legal definitions and acts to support her points. Though concession may have come from the responses by the Department on their responses, and the fact that they, as the Parliamentary Legal Unit, were also making suggestions of possible amendments, it was still their considered view that the current version of the Bill was perfectly fine, and if it were to be taken for litigation, it may pass constitutional muster, but that is the place for the courts.

The legal advisor further made a presentation on procedural matters raised during the Committee meetings on the processing of the Bill. The presentation was prepared considering the questions and requests made during the progression of activities of the Committee in its past meetings. It sought to show the required principles of reasonableness, s36 limitation exercise and striking the balance demanded by the stipulations of s28, 29 and 36 of the Constitution. The legal advisor concluded by cautioning the members not to prioritize technical matters over form and substance on that which will help every child.

The Committee deliberated on the BELA Bill clause-by-clause from the 17^th to the 18^th of April 2024, considering the submissions from public, and the responses given by the DBE. For each of the clauses the Committee followed the following format:

The Legal Advisor to read the clause in totality.
An input by the DBE
Members deliberations and engagements
Responses from DBE, the State Law Advisor and Parliamentary Legal Services
Committee final decision on the Clause (support/not support/object/amend/remove).

The committee called for amendments of various clauses as listed in the C-List of the BELA Bill [B2C-2022].

Consideration of the C-List of the BELA Bill

On the 24^th of April, the Parliamentary Legal Advisor took the Committee through the list of amendments that were agreed to during the clause-by-clause deliberations stage on the BELA Bill. A total of eight out of nine provinces supported the C-List amendments.

The members voted for the amendments on the C-List as follows:

Province	In Support/ Not in Support of amendments
Gauteng	In Support of amendments
North West	In Support of amendments
Eastern Cape	In Support of amendments
Western Cape	Not in Support of amendments
Free State	In Support of amendments
Northern Cape	In Support of amendments
Mpumalanga	In Support of amendments
Kwa-Zulu Natal	In Support of amendments
Limpopo	In Support of amendments

Consideration of Final Mandates

On the 2^nd of May 2024 the members deliberated on the D-version of the BELA Bill [B 2D-2022]. The Final Mandates submitted by the nine provinces were considered on the 2^nd of May 2024, which were submitted as follows:

Province	In Support/ Not in Support
Gauteng	In Support
North West	In Support
Eastern Cape	In Support
Western Cape	Not in Support
Free State	In Support
Northern Cape	In Support
Mpumalanga	In Support
Kwa-Zulu Natal	In Support
Limpopo	In Support

Outcome of Committee’s consideration of the Bill

The Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts, and Culture having deliberated on and considered the subject of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 2B-2022], referred to it as a section 76 Bill, reports that it has agreed to it with amendments [B 2D-2022].

Consideration of the Committee’s Report

The Committee considered the Report and eight provinces voted in support and one province voted not in support as follows:

Province	In Support/ Not in Support
Gauteng	In support
North West	In support
Eastern Cape	In support
Western Cape	Not in support
Free State	In support
Northern Cape	In support
Mpumalanga	In support
Kwa-Zulu Natal	In support
Limpopo	In support

Report to be considered.

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