The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education yesterday considered the draft report on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill. The committee has spent the past few months getting public feedback on the bill, which proposes controversial changes to South Africa’s school systems that will have wide-reaching consequences for parents, teachers, and governing bodies alike. Broadly, some of the key amendments that the bill aims to make include making grade R the new compulsory school starting age, as opposed to grade 1, as is currently the case. Criminalising parents who do not ensure their child or children are in school, with fines or jail time up to 12 months. Allowing schools to sell alcohol outside of school hours. The bill has sparked fears among many, with messages circulating that suggest the possible imprisonment of parents and raises questions about the bill’s intention to restrict School Governing Bodies. In this conversation, we talk about the bill and joining Lerato Mbele for this, is the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba.