Transformationists gunning for Afrikaans at Stellenbosch

FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION REACTS TO PROPOSAL FOR THE ABOLISHMENT OF AFRIKAANS AS LANGUAGE OF TUITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH'S TYGERBERG CAMPUS

A recent report of the University of Stellenbosch's (US) faculty of Health Sciences proposes that English should become the language of tuition at the US' Tygerberg Campus, as well as the Tygerberg Hospital (see Rapport report).

The report repeatedly singles Afrikaans out as an obstacle to transformation and diversity and goes as far as alleging that should change, in other words changing the faculty to English language one, not take place "the University may fail to attract students with progressive mind-sets and student intake will be limited to those that are more attached to past realities of South African society". Ms Dianna Yach, executive assistant for transformation to the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Jimmy Volmink, compiled the report.

The report comes as one of the latest developments in the continuing language debate at the US. It follows shortly after the university's Convocation overwhelmingly accepted a motion in October last year instructing the Rector and his management team to investigate the situation regarding the proven decline of Afrikaans as academic language at undergraduate level at the US.

According to Ms Yach, the aim of the study was "to determine whether the Faculty of Health Sciences is an inclusive and welcoming environment for students and staff where they can develop their full potential and thus help to promote the optimal health of diverse communities". Ms Yach further stated, "The Faculty of Health Sciences will strive towards recruiting students and staff, and nurturing and employing them, so that the diverse nature of the South African society is reflected.

The faculty also wants to promote an inclusive environment where all can study, do research and work without having to be exposed to discrimination, whether it be obvious or disguised". She confirmed that that the study was testimony based, presenting a qualitative rather than quantitative based study, and that it did not represent scientific research. Professor Volmink also reacted by saying that the study was not a policy document and was not intended as a research report.

The FW de Klerk Foundation takes note of Ms Yach's report and regards the opinions and statements contained in it not only as unfounded, but insensitive - especially in light of the following:

• Ms Yach admits that her study is qualitative rather than quantitative and that it is not scientifically based;
• Ms Yach's proposal is irreconcilable with the US's current language policy which aims at a 60% Afrikaans offering;
• The report creates the offensive impression that students who want to study in Afrikaans are "narrow-minded" and "long for the previous realities of South Africa (apartheid)" - in reality most of these students were born after the demise of apartheid;
• Ms Yach is apparently not interested in creating "a welcoming and inclusive environment" for the province's mainly coloured and white Afrikaans speaking majority;
• It is not clear how the "optimal health of diverse communities" can be promoted by denying them their language rights and imposing a single language on them;
• According to the report the faculty aims to "reflect the diversity of the South African society", but apparently not the diversity of its languages;
• How can the report's aim to "promote an inclusive environment" where nobody is subjected to "discrimination, whether it be obvious or disguised" be reconciled with the proposed obvious discrimination against Afrikaans speaking students?
• The fact that a majority of participants in this report indicated that "they would like the faculty leadership to clarify and reinforce that the faculty is a multilingual environment encouraging the use of Afrikaans, English and Xhosa" and not only English.

The allegations that Afrikaans is an obstacle to transformation and diversity and that Afrikaans causes obvious or disguised discrimination, are unfounded. It is in fact an inclusive language spoken not only by white South Africans, but also by a great many black, coloured and Indian communities.

To further use arguments for the use of English to achieve better service delivery and communication in the context of hospitals, and between doctors and their patients, and doctors and their medical colleagues, is unfair and nothing but a smokescreen. The report focuses on changing the faculty to English and thus ignores the rights and needs of patients in the Western Cape who want to receive medical services in Afrikaans. Furthermore, Ms Latricia Pienaar, spokesperson for the Tygerberg Hospital, confirms in this regard that, whatever the language policies of the US may be, it would not affect work at the hospital, as there are interpreters to address any language problem.

Should the demand to change to English - as espoused by Ms Yach - be implemented, the faculty will fail in its goal to help promote optimal health in diverse communities. Also, to change the faculty to English and do away with Afrikaans is not only discriminatory towards those who are Afrikaans speaking, but goes against the multilingual and multicultural spirit of our Constitution. It also goes against the express wishes of individuals within the faculty for a multilingual environment that is not exclusively English, but where the use of also Afrikaans and Xhosa is encouraged.

Statement issued by Adv. Jacques du Preez, FW de Klerk Foundation, Cape Town, April 3 2012

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Let sense, not emotion prevail! At this time the global language of science, technology and business is English. Look around, and the vast majority of South African's not only recognise this, but act accordingly. Mastership of science, technology and business requires the use of . .more English. Stellenbosch needs to recognise and reflect this. However, our communities have many languages. The medical fraternity of Stellenbosch deals with communities. No, not just in the Western Cape: many of its students are from other communities throughout South Africa... Not just Afrikaans and Xhosa... Practising medicine requires good communication with each patient to make a diagnosis, to discuss alternative treatments and to follow up with patients. The best command of English would not help to diagnose psychological problems in a person who cannot communicate in English (or Afrikaans). Thus English is essential and community language familiarity is required by those who deal with each. Individual community languages should not drive the official business and tuition languages of Stellenbosch University... Use the best textbooks (invariably English) and teach in accordingly. Provide a spread of community languages. . .less by Dinks on April 04 2012, 08:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

This Apartheid Dinosaur must just GO TO HELL! U want to continue Apartheid under 'democracy'? U want Cappuccino ECONOMY, Rght Wing Education for BOERS (Afrikaans Exams where all Boers get passed by Boer Lectures), Right Wing Sports (in particular Rugby and Cricket)? All this coz of some 'democracy' from CODESA with Mandela? by Mute Fool_Makoya on April 04 2012, 09:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Afrikaans at U Stellenbosch There are more people in SA who identify themselves as of Afrikaans culture than there are Norwegians in Norway, or Danes in Denmark, and about as many as there are Finns in Finland. This is a large public, many or most of whom need to be served in . .more Afrikaans. It would be ridiculous to replace Afrikaans with English at Tygerberg, and lectures in Afrikaans does not prevent one from mastering English: my English as good as you'll get, and I am a Stellenbosch graduate. . .less by Fred Kruger on April 04 2012, 11:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

transformation, gunning etc. nice fig leaf to play down & cover international YudeoAngloAmerican money`s race war agains whites and the ethnic cleansing of Afrikaners by boggom on April 04 2012, 11:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

'Ethnic cleansing' being the right word. The ANC is preoccupied with trying to obliterate signs of the evil 'other' wherever it finds them. Trying to pretend this ethnic cleansing at universities is unrelated to rape robbery and murder in the suburbs seems more than a trifle dishonest and . .more contrived. Leave it to Lucy... The FW Foundation should stop its busywork around peripheral issues and give us the facts of life - and death - in the New South Africa. How many whites have been murdered since 1994 by black perpetrators? Lets have an audit of the modus vivendi. Obviously, if the objective interrogation of the facts paints a dismal picture this would be a huge blow to egos. Take some solace from the inputs of South Africa's Greatest Statesman - one who truly loved his people even if he often had to drag them kicking and screaming into the 20th century at gunpoint - to the other Boer leaders when they were discussing Kitchener's peace proposals. You can find them in 'De vredesonderhandelingen tusschen Boer en Brit in Zuid - Afrika' by Ds JD Kestell. A free English online version is available for those who did not pay attention to the Dutch setwork in the Afrikaans class. . .less by Brett on April 04 2012, 12:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

More cultural marxism As an English speaker, I am appalled and angered by this blatant attack on Afrikaans, and, by extension, all Afrikaans speakers. There appears to be no shortage of grovelling lackeys like Dianna Yach who prostitute themselves with this sort of drivel . .more in order to ingratiate themselves with their ANC handlers. If there are any funders of note who object to this stalinist tyranny, I urge them to threaten to withhold any further funding to this university until common sense and fair play prevails. . .less by Graham on April 04 2012, 12:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Afrikaans The Constitution recognised all languages in SA, there is no language better than the other. but we need to accept that English is a global commercial language and it must be elavated to the medium of communication at all levels. at home we encourage . .more individuals to speak their mother tongue, eg, Afrikaans or Xhosa . .less by TT on April 04 2012, 13:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Yes, Mr former President, apartheid died on 27 April 1994 Right outside the beloved Stellenbosch is a predominantly (if not completely) Black residential area, in which Afrikaans is not spoken by the inhabitants (or is spoken by only a handful of them). Many youngsters have to travel to UWC or, if . .more they can afford it, UCT because Stellenbosch University still excludes them on the basis of language. Many (if not all) undergraduate courses are still offered in Afrikaans only. Yes, non-Afrikaans students can write their assignments, tests and exams in English but they can only be lectured in Afrikaans. That cannot be right. In my experience, not too many Black people (in the narrow sense) born after 1976 have a good command of the Afrikaans language. Of those who do, many of them do not want to communicate in the language. The age group entering or currently at university at undergraduate level is mainly from the post-1976 era. English is the business language of South Africa. University students need tools that will enable them to participate effectively in the economy after leaving university – hence the need for English. Get it? Nobody will be precluded from speaking their own language; however, the medium of instruction will be English, the business language of South Africa. . .less by Frank Talk on April 04 2012, 15:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Patience of the Afrikaners I am an English-speaking SA doctor who trained at an Afrikaans university in the '60s and the grandfather of an lovely adopted black child.I was amazed how developed the Afrikaans language was in science and medicine.. Tygerberg campus already gives all . .more lectures in English. Most of the lecturers are Afrikaans speaking and are now forced to lecture in English. In essence this is to make it more understandable for the Quota Doctors. Like the EP all African universities are not functioning and the ANC is turning its hands to those that are. The more black things are, the worse they are and will be. (anybody dispute this?) These new quota doctors are going to be the backbone of the new NHS. This is going to be another all-African success story paid for by white taxpayers. M.B.Ch.B (Cape) (Affirm.) sounds like a nice new degree. . .less by Dr No on April 04 2012, 17:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@TT If your argument is to hold any water we should all be learing to read write and speak Madirin. You up for that? by Grif on April 04 2012, 18:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Be realistic and less emotional about any language . I’m not English speaking or Afrikaans speaking , although I must admit I’m in favour if South Africa would change over to English as the official language for business and education. However a African . .more language should be run . .more alongside to English as the 2nd official language >>>> Xhosa or Zulu in all primary and High-schools .( DEPENDING ON THE PROVINCE ) Language is one of the dividing factors between PEOPLE of our RAINBBOW-NATION. At our next national election , include the language choice of the people on the VOTERS -LIST... This will once and for all solve the language question and stop the unnecessary discussions on the ground and in parliament !!!!!!! . .less . .less by Manfred Schmidt on April 04 2012, 18:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Dr No Why the need to make reference to your “lovely adopted black” grandchild? So we can say you are not racist?!Newsflash! You still come across as racist. In fact, the reference to your “lovely adopted black” grandchild only serves to highlight your . .more racism. It should come as no surprise that Afrikaans is DEVELOPED considering the money and other resources spent on effectively locking out Black people from economic and academic participation. You CHOSE to study at an Afrikaans university – Black people didn’t even have that choice. They were not wanted at either English or Afrikaans university hence their being thrown into the “AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES” with minimal choices of study areas and the most minimum resources. How is all of that supposed to be resolved in just 18 years when the English and Afrikaans universities continue to suck the public pocket dry? It is a necessity that Afrikaans universities be made a thing of the past so that the public funds they are given can be used to educate the underprivileged who are continuing to be excluded from academic participation by institutions of learning through a Afrikaans medium of instruction. . .less by Frank Talk on April 04 2012, 19:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Frank, please remind me again What was the name of that university that was in existence in South African before the English and Dutch arrived here? by Realist on April 04 2012, 20:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Realist: There was no university before you arrived UNINVITED and started LOOTING? The Universities and EVERYTHiNG in this countries are ours NOW because they are product of our mineral wealth! You can 'fight' back or quitely leave? by Kom Net Met Dromedaries on April 04 2012, 21:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

by Frank Talk on April 04 2012, 15:16 Easy peasy then. Just stop taking their parents' taxes and let Afrikaans students pay for tuition in Afrikaans at private universities. by Brett on April 04 2012, 22:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Dommedaries, the only mineral wealth you'll ever get close to is the copper wire you steal. by Brett on April 04 2012, 22:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Realist and Brett Ever heard of accessio? by Frank Talk on April 04 2012, 23:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Stellenbosch Afrikaners should give up on Stellenbosch. The ANC will steal it, and there is no purpose in further supporting this univesity, which is at its core hostile to Afrikaners. If you are an alumni, stop giving to it, and instead look for other . .more institutions which should get your money and enrolments. People like "Frank Talk" above are English Empire builders -- an Empire (like all others) that thrive on the assimilation (and extermination if necessary) of what they consider to be lesser peoples and cultures. They are all over the place, and it is only in French Canada that their march have been stopped (but not before their stupid views enraged the French Canadians almost o the point of succession). Now there are in Canada, I hear, several French language universities, lecturing ONLY in French. By the same token, if South Africa is really a democracy, then it can have (and should have) single language Afrikaans universities and schools. And if you go to it, then you must learn Afrikaans. Period. This is the way of the entire democratic world, and if SA is really a democracy, then it would adhere to the same standard. But we do all know otherwise about the ANC, do we not? They are, after all, a band of thieves. . .less by JVR on April 04 2012, 23:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

parasiting on WHITES and discrimination against Afrikaners Primitive Afrika is upon us - thanks to the leftist "whites" tying to justify their stupid and irrational selective arguments. Wonder how "English only" speaking quota doctors would serve south africa. And NO manfred - I am NOT prepared to JUST . .more give up - because You clowns demand that!!! . .less by sieg heil on April 05 2012, 07:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Sieg heil: i like you, why must Afrikaners GIVE UP and conform to this 'transformation' KAAK? We have to ENGAGE each other once and for all. There has to be 1 Bull in the kraal, either we go back to whereever BANTUS came from or you go back to Holland! by Kom Net Met Dromedaries on April 05 2012, 08:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

domme daar is - witman het jou nie nodig nie - groot (fiat) geldstelsel het wel Gaan maar terug na jou kraal - dis waar jy hoort en vandaan kom - ek bly in APARTHEID deel van sa - deur my blanke voorouers gebou en ontwikkel - absoluut NIKS van jou nodig nie - julle is eers 170 jaar NA die blankes in die kaap nes geskop het, in die . .more ooskaap gewaar - waar julle stamhoofde "regeer"het. die sendelinge voer julle sedert dien al vet met opvoeding en beskawing - wat net meer van julle met julle probleme tot gevolg het. . .less by sieg heil on April 05 2012, 09:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

by Frank Talk on April 04 2012, 23:17 Why? Got a Law of Things assignment you need help with? by Brett on April 05 2012, 09:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Brett No dearie, I don’t. But perhaps you should remember what it is. Perhaps you should give a lecture on it to @Realist, while you are at it. After all, the colonialists brought it onto our shores! by Frank Talk on April 05 2012, 10:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Blade is sending our medical students to train ...... in Cuba which is taught in Spanish. As far as he is concerned language must be transformed. What do you make of that? by DM on April 05 2012, 23:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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