Setback for Afrikaans at Maties
AfriForum Youth took notice with great concern regarding the decision taken by the Council of the University of Stellenbosch (US) during its Board Meeting on 28 September to no longer protect Afrikaans as medium of instruction in the official language policy of the university and other documents.
“The fact that the Council removed the word ‘protect’, is an indication that the Council has no intention to retain Afrikaans as medium of instruction at the US, the Council is thus directly responsible for the removal of Afrikaans at yet another one of SA’s universities,” said Eduan Dupper, Spokesperson for AfriForum Youth.
“It is unprecedented that the Council complies with the demands of a radical and racist group such as Open Stellenbosch which refuses to arrange a meeting with the university and is not even a registered organisation on campus,” added Dupper.
AfriForum Youth is of the opinion that the Council must not let it be dictated by groups without any legitimacy and which is not prepared to follow the correct channels. There are numerous other organisations which frequently deliver inputs by following the correct procedures, but it seems as if the Council disregards their opinions but rather reacts to those who don’t follow the procedures.
AfriForum Youth is also planning to direct a letter to the Council to enquire, amongst other things, about the reasons for the decision as well as why disciplinary steps have yet to be taken against members of OS who disrupted classes and deprived other students of their class time, while they are quick to act against councillors using their freedom of speech to question ideologies such as transformation.
“The Council must also not be under the illusion that Open Stellenbosch represents the voice of the general student in Stellenbosch and they certainly do not represent the majority of students in Stellenbosch. They should make a decision regarding what is more important, their own students or students from other universities who are being transported with busses?” concluded Dupper.
Afrikaans is once again the target of radical transformation. It is clear that Afrikaans has no place in our so-called “rainbow nation”.
