As a fundamental institution for any democratic society, the education environment often imitates or reveals the social and political dynamics of a people. The interplay is so powerful that if there is violence, inequality, a moral deficit, or access to privileges, it will be reflected in schools.
In South Africa, the politics of language and control in schools have escalated to the point of casting a shadow of doubt on the possible survival and sustainability of political relations in the coalition government — the government of national unity.
Media reports at the weekend have shed light on a possible expulsion of education minister Siviwe Gwarube for her party's (DA) disagreement over the structure of the Bela Bill which seeks to transform the basic education system. The Sunday Times has, through sources, established that President Cyril Ramaphosa is being advised and swayed to get rid of her for pushing for the exclusion of two clauses that have resulted in a standstill in the passing of the piece of legislation.
Gwarube reportedly agreed with two strong opponents of the Bela Bill — AfriForum and Solidarity — promising them that she would use her powers as a minister to ensure that their interests were guarded. This is something the ANC has ridiculed, with deputy president Paul Mashatile saying they want the bill now. Meanwhile, the opponents are confident that the agreement they made with Gwarube serves as a legal promise they are willing to see through.
The stakes are high and the interested parties are not backing down, with Solidarity CEO Dirk Hermann saying the agreement was a “breakthrough” that “serves mother tongue education.
“The minister and the president can simply fulfil their respective duties. President Ramaphosa cannot put the Bela articles into effect on his authority, especially if the minister advises him otherwise,” said Hermann.
The GNU’s stability is hanging in the balance due to the need to protect the Afrikaans language which has predominantly been a barrier for other language-speaking pupils when they enter the education system. The efforts to protect its dominance and influence have been mostly motivated by the need for the preservation of a minority language, its culture and influence: but in the context of South Africa, it is a reminder of how inequitable some of the laws still are.
The decriers of this bill — Afrikaners — raise a concern that a loss of dominance of their language is a threat to their cultural identity, with schools being instrumental in teaching and entrenching their philosophies and preserving them. However, what is good for the goose should be good for the gander: the pain over the erosion of the Afrikaans language’s presence should be equated with the derailment and pain that comes with other languages being disregarded.
Whose interests deserve to be elevated in terms of school policy, given our history? Are the Afrikaans groups regressing redress or simply protecting their privilege? What is at stake?
The battle for law reform within the GNU highlights the pervasive and systemic nature of apartheid as a system and the complexity that comes with attempting to dismantle the legacy of such a regime. Also, it is important to have a legal framework in forming a just and equitable society.
It is therefore not shocking that a piece of law that seeks to put every child on a fair footing would be challenged to the point of threatening the stability of the governance structure. Equally, this conflict exhibits that laws can be a powerful tool for the delivery of freedom and a source of nation-building, but also an area of contestation in a diverse country like South Africa.
However, whether one approves of the stance by Gwarube and co or not, this too is the fruit of democracy — everyone under it has a right to defend their interests and speak out against anything that they perceive as a threat to their survival. It should be accommodated, even if not understood or agreed on.
Should Gwarube be fired for going against the ANC? Whose interests deserve to be elevated in terms of school policy, given our history? Are the Afrikaans groups regressing redress or simply protecting their privilege? What is at stake?
Though speculation has been rife about Gwarube’s future as a minister, the battle is reaching a tipping point, and Ramaphosa's move will determine a lot of things. Whatever balance he may need to strike, it is important that language and heritage, representation and inclusivity, the effect of the past, resource politics and transparency in schools be the primary indicators of which direction he must take.
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