The DA comments on the envisaged Stellenbosch University language policy

14 November 2015

The DA believes in building inclusive campuses, where students are not excluded on the basis of language or any other characteristic. We further support the constitutional principle that every person has the right to be taught in the official language of their choice, where reasonably practicable.

While the DA respects the autonomy of Stellenbosch University to make decisions affecting its language policy, we have some concerns about the proposed language policy, as outlined in the Vice-Chancellor’s recent statement. 

The change would see English made the primary language of instruction, and this appears to be in contravention of the constitutional principle that every person has the right to be taught in the official language of their choice, where reasonably practicable. It cannot be argued that teaching in Afrikaans is not "reasonably practicable”. The constitutional rights of Afrikaans speaking students, therefore, need to be upheld while those of other students of different backgrounds are also met. That is what inclusiveness means in a multicultural society.

So instead of jettisoning Afrikaans as the primary language of instruction, ways should be found to ensure that both the principles of inclusivity and language rights are upheld.

Perhaps as a reflection of the haste with which this proposal has been put forward, it is also of concern to us that the consultation process undertaken thus far by the University appears to have been quite narrow, and may not have taken all views into consideration. We note, for example, that the South African Students Congress was consulted, but the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation was not. Students and academic staff with a wide variety of opinions surely need to be consulted, including many whose views may not accord with those of any political party or movement. 

We strongly recommend that the University uses the next stage of its consultative process to significantly widen the pool of those consulted, to include all students, student organisations, academics and alumni, and to ensure that all constitutional principles are duly adhered to.

Statement issued by Prof Belinda Bozzoli MP, DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education and Training, 14 November 2015