Solidarity Youth: US language policy a violent denial of Afrikaans as an indigenous language

16 August 2021

Solidarity Youth today submitted its comments on the amended draft language policy of Stellenbosch University (SU). The comments maintain that the language policy undermines students’ right to Afrikaans mother tongue education because of the misrepresentations of the practical implications contained in the language policy.

According to Solidarity, the government’s ideological basis is used to create a misperception of the definition of indigenous languages, which in fact denies Afrikaans the right to exist. The organisation further believes that the university’s seemingly naïve approach to the implication of its language policy, disguised as inclusivity, is in fact a concealed agenda that is being followed to scale down Afrikaans as a language of instruction.

“The SU only pretends that Afrikaans will continue to exist as a language of instruction while it has already adapted the wording in its policy to such an extent that it actually can use any excuse not to implement it. We are of the opinion that the SU would much rather placate the government by adopting ANC ideologies that deny recognition of certain languages than it would take care of the needs in its own community and especially the needs of its students,” said Paul Maritz, manager of Solidarity Youth.

Maritz added that a selection of indigenous languages is undermined by the government, which deprives the speakers of those languages of the right to receive instruction in their language of choice. According to him, it is precisely this ideology that the SU is supporting at the expense of its students. He further argues that the framework is divisive and dishonest, and that it denies the existence of communities that depend on the Stellenbosch University for recognition as fully fledged, indigenous language communities.

“If the language policy of the SU were to be implemented, it would be a catastrophe, not only for Afrikaans as a language, but for every Afrikaans-speaking student. It will imply a violation of their right to receive education in their mother tongue. Solidarity Youth will not stand by idly and watch how the SU, with its ANC ideology, discriminates against students,” Maritz concluded.

Read the comments here.

Issued by Paul Maritz, Manager, Solidarity Youth, 16 August 2021