BASIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE WON’T ALLOW DELAY IN BELA ACT REGULATIONS @ParliamentofRSA @DBE_SA @JustSecuCluster @EducationGP1 @NCape_Education @edu_limp @WCEDnews @Mpueducation @nwdoe @DBE_KZN @ECDOEZA @FSDeptEducation @GovernanceClus1 ⁦

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ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION, MS JOY MAIMELA.

We took a dim view as we noted that the WCED seems to disregard our oversight role. We informed it to prepare a more detailed presentation that actually speaks to the request we sent to them,” reiterated Ms Mailmela.

“The WCED has been told to amend its presentation and address the shortcomings. The WCED had a seven-slide presentation, but only three of those slides had the required information.

Ms Maimela said the committee resolved not to engage with the presentation of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) as it felt that the presentation lacked the details the committee wanted.

She went on to say that the committee engaged with eight provincial departments of education. Challenges of infrastructure, funding for compulsory Grade-R, training of Grade-R practitioners and stipends paid to them, were some of the concerns that were highlighted.

“We need the detail of what led to the guidelines as we must discuss if we need to write to the Office of the President and explain the confusion created in the sector,” emphasised Ms Maimela.

“The committee is of the view that the time spent for draft guidelines could have been utilized rather for drafting regulations.

Ms Maimela said the committee requested the Minister to provide a comprehensive report within four working days on the process that led to the drafting of the guidelines.

The CEM referred the matter back to the Heads of Education Departments Committee (HEDCOM).

Several provincial departments of education told the committee that the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) rejected the guidelines and said focus should rather be on drafting the guidelines.

Ms Maimela said: “We have not been furnished with any guidelines or regulations. During our engagements with the provincial departments of education, it became apparent that the guidelines differ from the SASA.

Special reference was made to “collaboration vs after consultation, the powers of the HOD and the appeals process”.

Some provincial departments of education told the committee that they are concerned with the revised version of the admissions part of the guidelines that contradicts the SASA and impacts on the province’s administrative powers.

Ms Maimela said the committee is extremely concerned over claims that these guidelines are in violation of the South African Schools Act (SASA).

Ms Gwarube denied that she succumbed to the outside influence to draft the guidelines.

The Minister indicated that the ten draft regulations were at an advanced stage and would be finalised in due course. She also told the committee that ten task teams were established to handle each regulation and two of those were nearly complete and are in the Office of the.

Minister Gwarube, indicated that she acted within her powers to issue the draft guidelines for the provincial departments of education, stating it is a guide to implement the BELA Act, but not binding.

Ms Maimela reminded the Minister of the DBE, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, that the deadline for the regulations was at the end of June 2025.