Edu minister prioritises education agenda over protests during visit
Siviwe Gwarube's visit to Polokwane continued uninterrupted, even as a group of Cosas members protested outside PEMPS, criticising her decision not to endorse the Bela Bill.
POLOKWANE – The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, maintained her focus on education improvements in Limpopo during her ministerial visit on Monday, despite ongoing controversy surrounding the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill.
Gwarube, who has been vocal about her party, the DA’s opposition to certain aspects of the bill, did not allow the political debate to interfere with her commitments to the province’s education sector.
Earlier, Gwarube had stated that she would not engage on issues if President Cyril Ramaphosa proceeded with the signing of the bill, as she aligned with her party’s stance on key amendments.
Despite this, the minister made it clear that her primary focus remained on supporting Limpopo’s education leadership, including Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Education MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, in their efforts to enhance the quality of education.
During her multi-stop visit, which started at PEMPS, Gwarube met with educational leaders and emphasised her commitment to addressing provincial challenges.
“It’s important to focus on the work at hand – improving our schools and ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to succeed,” she said.
The minister’s visit continued uninterrupted, even as a group of approximately 50 Congress of South African Students (Cosas) members protested outside PEMPS, criticising her decision not to endorse the Bela Bill.
Cosas provincial secretary, Shirley Ngoato, accused the minister of undermining core policies within the education sector, though Gwarube chose not to engage directly with the protestors.
Basic Education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, clarified the minister’s position: “There was no formal communication from Cosas, so the minister has chosen to remain focused on her duties. Her visit is about ensuring that Limpopo’s schools have the support they need.”
Despite the protest, Gwarube’s schedule remained on track, with visits to other schools, including Dendron High School, Helen Franz Special School, and Kuschke Agricultural School.
She also participated in a media briefing alongside the Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, who touched on the proposed bill’s key provision to lower the school starting age for Gr R learners to four or five years.
