Issued by: SA Communication Service
STATEMENT ON MEETING BETWEEN MINISTER BENGU AND REPRESENTATIVES OF AFRIKAANS SPEAKING COMMUNITIES
The Minister of Education, Prof Bengu, received a delegation from Afrikaans communities,led by Prof J J van der Merwe, at his offices in Cape Town today. The object of the meeting was to discuss the practical implications of language rights in education, which are provided for in clause 29 (2) of the new constitution and the ongoing negotiations with school governing bodies in terms of section 247 of the interim constitution.
An agreement was reached to set up a working group under the Director-General of Education, Dr C Manganyi, which would develop pro-active ways and means of implementing the contents of clause 29 (2) of the new constitution. It was further agreed that the terms of reference of this working group would be worked out by the representatives of the Afrikaans speaking communities and the Director-General, in consultation with representatives of provinces and other stakeholders.
The meeting agreed that it was necessary to build maximum consensus on the South African Schools Bill. In pursuance of this the Minister acceded to a request for bona fide negotiations between the Minister's negotiating team and the legal representatives of the South African Foundation of Education and Training (SAFET) and the South African Federation of State Aided Schools (SAFSAS), as these two organistaions had been mandated by governing bodies in all provinces to conduct negotiations on their behalf. The Department of Education will facilitate these negotiations which will endeavour to reach consensus on the granting of rights, powers and functions of the governing bodies of schools as proposed by the South African Schools Bill.
The representatives of the Afrikaans community assured the Minister of their commitment to a constructive process of solution seeking. They further offered their help and services to the Ministry and Department in the development of a new education system, which would benefit all South African learners.
The Minister re-iterated his commitment to consultation and negotiation in the process of developing new education policies, and urged the Afrikaans speaking community to continue discussing the transformation of the education system with both himself and his department.
For further information please contact Mr Lincoln Mali at: office (021) 457 350 or (cell) 083 251 4044 June 24 1996