Education Bill Sparks Rift in South Africa's Unity Government

South Africa’s unity government faces its first significant conflict over an education bill President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to sign. The Democratic Alliance claims the bill violates coalition agreements. The bill, controversial for altering school language and admission policies, aims to prevent racial exclusion, fueling opposition from Afrikaans-speaking communities.

South Africa's unity government is encountering its first real conflict over an education bill that President Cyril Ramaphosa intends to sign into law this week. The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa's second-largest party, warned on Wednesday that the bill could jeopardize the coalition agreement.

DA leader John Steenhuisen indicated that the passing of the legislation violates foundational agreements of the government of national unity. "The DA regards this issue in the most serious light, and I will convey to the President the destructive implications it holds for the future of the GNU," Steenhuisen said, without elaborating on the specific consequences.

The bill introduces changes to basic education laws, prominently those that strengthen government oversight on schools' language and admission policies. The ANC argued this measure aims to prevent exclusion based on language—a proxy for race—but it has faced fierce opposition, particularly from Afrikaans-speaking groups who claim it threatens their educational institutions.

(With inputs from agencies.)