By Amy Musgrave
With the deadline looming to iron out contentious clauses in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) conflict resolution unit has agreed to bring in a group of senior multiparty leaders to resolve differences.
They include Democratic Alliance Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille and African National Congress chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli.
The GNU’s clearing house mechanism met on Wednesday to discuss the clauses, which have political parties, teacher unions and civil society divided on the way forward.
The clauses deal with mother-tongue education and single-medium schools.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who serves as the Secretariat of the clearing house mechanism, the meeting was attended by most political parties who participate in the structure.
It noted the need to resolve the matter within the three months that President Cyril Ramaphosa has allocated.
The deadline is 13 December.
“After an extensive engagement, the clearing house mechanism agreed on the establishment of a small team to work on the concerns as raised by some parties,” the statement said.
The team also comprises Deputy Minister Andries Nel, Cornelius Mulder of Freedom Front Plus and Brett Herron from the GOOD Party.
It has been given two weeks to work together and report to the clearing house mechanism.
The meeting also agreed on the need to put party-political interests aside and find a solution that benefited all South Africans, the statement said.
Hundreds of people and groups opposed to the clauses will hold a protest in Pretoria on Tuesday.
It is being led by the Solidarity Movement and AfriForum.
INSIDE POLITICS
