Protesters march to deliver memorandum on SU language policy

A group of protesters presented a memorandum to Stellenbosch University (SU) stating their concerns with the revised SU language policy on 9 April. 

This is according to Martin Viljoen, spokesperson of SU. “SU today received a memorandum from the DAK Netwerk. The memorandum relates to the university’s Language Policy and specifically the position of Afrikaans that is of concern to the organisation,” said Viljoen in email correspondence with MatieMedia.

According to Dak Netwerk’s website, this organisation aims to put renewed focus on the social and economic issues facing Afrikaans disadvantaged communities.

The protestors gathered outside SU’s Admin B building to present the memorandum. They then marched through Stellenbosch town and gathered on Die Braak field in front of the PJ Olivier Art Centre, where they were addressed by guest speakers and performers.

 Protesters march to deliver memorandum on SU language policy

Protesters gathered outside Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Admin B office on 9 April to hand over a memorandum stating concerns about the manner in which Afrikaans was included in the first draft of the revised SU language policy. PHOTO: Maryam Adams

“The action is to protest the fact that Afrikaans is being removed as an academic language at SU,” said Frederik van Dyk, spokesperson for StudentePlein, an Afrikaans organisation that, according to its website, aims to provide students with academic assistance in their own language. 

The protest was led by the Afrikaans coloured community, according to Van Dyk. 

The memorandum was received by Dr Leslie van Rooi, senior director of social impact and transformation at SU, according to Viljoen. Van Rooi stated that he looks forward to working with interest groups to ensure the future of Afrikaans as a language of South Africa, and as a part of a multicultural and multilingual university. 

“We are not against the implementation of English. In fact, we regard English as just as important as Afrikaans as an academic language. But we feel we are disadvantaging our community in the Western Cape, which is more than 60% Afrikaans-speaking,” said Hendrik Theys, a protester and former lecturer at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). 

People are concerned about how the updated language policy could impact mother-tongue education, as well as the broader Afrikaans language ecosystem, said Van Dyk. If Afrikaans ceases to be an academic language, there will be consequences for the manner in which Afrikaans is used in public spaces, he added. 

“If we lose [Afrikaans] at Stellenbosch, all the other indigenous languages will stand no chance at proper survival, except being relegated to the kitchen,” said Theys. 

The university welcomes a diversity of opinions and viewpoints, according to Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, deputy vice-chancellor of learning and teaching at SU. 

“It is clear that there are various interest groups that are interested in especially the position of Afrikaans, as demonstrated by today’s DAK Netwerk march,” said Ramjugernath.

Calls for bigger inclusivity

A student activist from SU, however, questioned whether the aim of the protest was inclusivity for all languages. 

“They say they are fighting for indigenous languages, but they are only fighting for Afrikaans,” said Zizo Vokwana. 

SU should create a space that is inclusive to the three official languages of the Western Cape, according to William Sezoe, another SU student. Sezoe urged the university to look for practical ways to apply multilingualism in a suitable and inclusive manner. 

Protesters march to deliver memorandum on SU language policy

Protestors marching through Stellenbosch town. PHOTO: Maryam Adams

VIDEO: Maryam Adams

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By Giuseppe Guerandi and Maryam Adams