AfriForum Youth demands answers about Afrikaans’ future on the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus

19 October 2022 

AfriForum Youth has sent a formal application today in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to the North-West University’s (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus to ascertain what the future of Afrikaans on this campus is. The youth organisation asks for specific information regarding the language policy, admission policy and the use of Afrikaans on this campus.

Through the PAIA application, the youth organisation wants to equip prospective students and donors with accurate information about the use of Afrikaans on campus, so that they can make an objective decision about where they want to study or donate money.

“Afrikaans students’ money is good enough, but their language is being phased out under the guise of transformation. If we cannot study and have a student life in Afrikaans, we would like to know so that we can make an objective decision and not be lured to the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus under false pretences,” says René van der Vyver, spokesperson for AfriForum Youth.

This follows the Vice-Chancellor of the NWU, dr Bismark Tyobeka’s, comments on the seriousness of the NWU to keep Afrikaans on the Potchefstroom Campus while pushing a strong transformation agenda. “We have seen universities across the country anglicise under the guise of transformation,” says Van der Vyver.

In the PAIA application, AfriForum Youth demands answers about, among other things, what the admission policy of the Potchefstroom Campus’ residences is regarding race and language, what percentage of lecturers appointed since 2020 are fluent in Afrikaans, and what percentage of classes are taught, in Afrikaans.

“If the NWU Potchefstroom Campus’ transformation agenda is pushed at the expense of a future for Afrikaans on the Potchefstroom Campus, students, alumni, and donors have the right to know. The answers to our PAIA application will be decisive,” concludes Van der Vyver.

Issued by René van der Vyver, Spokesperson, AfriForum Youth, 19 October 2022