ANC members walk out of public meeting on school bill

TWO ANC MPLs walked out of a public meeting on the controversial Western Cape Schools Education Amendment Bill after the public were told they could not participate in the meeting.

The meeting was meant to allow Education MEC Debbie Schäfer to provide clarity on the controversial bill which allows alcohol to be sold and consumed on public school premises or at school activities.

The small meeting room was packed with citizens and this prompted ANC MPL Cameron Dugmore and Theo Olivier to request that members of the public be allowed to ask questions and engage Schäfer.

But the acting chairperson of the education standing committee, Lorraine Botha, said the meeting was meant for MPLs and Schäfer’s briefing.

“When members of the ANC were once again informed that the meeting was open for the public to observe, but not to provide further submissions, the ANC in the Western Cape opted to walk out on the committee and in doing so decided to not use their opportunity to pose further questions on the nature of the bill to the MEC,” she said.

But Dugmore said they left after Botha prevented the public from asking questions. “This is done to shield DA MEC Debbie Schäfer from the public who rejects this bill and to be excluded from a lawmaking process. This allows the legislature to collapse and not hold the executive to account.”

Botha said that in walking out the ANC denied the people they claimed to represent the opportunity to raise further questions regarding the bill. – Staff Writer

DUGMORE SAID THEY LEFT AFTER BOTHA PREVENTED THE PUBLIC FROM ASKING QUESTIONS