South Africa is seeing the first cracks appear in its national unity government. The object of discord: an education law, voted in May 2024 by Parliament, and that President Cyril Ramaphosa is preparing to sign this Friday. The center-right Democratic Alliance, and its leader, the current Minister of Agriculture, reiterated their opposition to this text this Wednesday, which now threatens the stability of the government.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès
During the negotiations to form a coalition government, the Democratic Alliance, until then the largest opposition party inSouth Africahad indicated his rejection of the education law, particularly because of the changes it brings to the autonomy of public schools, which will have less latitude to choose their linguistic policy.
” Destructive implications »
In a statement, party leader John Steenhuisen said enacting the law could have “ destructive implications ” for the coalition government.
Response from the presidential spokesperson: this signature is part of the legal obligations of the head of state, now that the law has been passed, and he cannot oppose it for political reasons. There is no need to threaten the stability of the national unity government just because there is a dispute over a law. ” he added, calling on the leaders of the allied parties to show “ restraint “.
Dispute Resolution System
Representatives of the various political parties in the coalition met in the evening to discuss points of friction and to set up a conflict resolution system in order to better manage future disagreements.
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