South Africa's education bill threatens coalition, Democratic Alliance says

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday an education bill that President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to sign into law this week threatens the future of the unity government, the first sign of real friction between the coalition partners.

The Democratic Alliance entered into a coalition with Ramaphosa's African National Congress and other smaller parties this year after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority, despite strong ideological differences between them.

The disputed bill makes several changes to basic education laws in South Africa, including around home schooling, pre-school and language policy.

The DA said it is concerned about the right to mother-tongue education, but the ANC says the reforms would help to prevent the exclusion of learners based on language, which can be used as a proxy for racial exclusion.

The DA's statement followed a presidency statement saying that Ramaphosa would sign into law the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) bill on Friday.

Such a move would violate the agreements and understandings that formed the basis of the government of national unity, DA leader John Steenhuisen said in a statement.

"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," he said.

An ANC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Alexander Winning and Ros Russell)