The process concerning the highly controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill was extended with at least two more weeks yesterday.
The Standing Committee on Education of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) was supposed to finalise the text, which the Council should have considered, yesterday. Additional amendments were made, however, and there is still more work to be done. The Committee plans to finalise matters on 2 May.
Seeing as the Committee amended the text already approved by the provinces it must go back to the Provincial Legislatures for approval. The NCOP can only consider the Bill after that.
The National Assembly (NA) adopted BELA before the most recent amendments. That is why the text approved by the NCOP must be referred back to the NA before the President can sign it into law.
Meanwhile, 29 May is coming closer by the day. A new Parliament may have the chance to consider a better bill, after all.
;
