Maties faculties want to anglicise; US management assures future of Afrikaans

28 January 2016

Various faculties of the University of Stellenbosch (US) started sending out directives to anglicise nearly all classes. AfriForum Youth is of the opinion that these directives are unfounded and in conflict with the language policy of the US. 

“This is once again a classic case where the state compiles a policy, but wants to implement something completely different on ground level. These are biased decisions and the faculties now wish to start implementing it against students who have already registered for their subjects. The fact that faculties are excluding students from these decisions and as such doing an injustice to them, simply goes to show that it forms part of a political strategy to remove Afrikaans at the US. We will mobilise students to ensure that their side of the story is also told,” said Morné Mostert, AfriForum Youth’s National Coordinator.

The management of the US made a decision in 2015 to change the university’s language of instruction. However, this decision was nullified by the university council due to the fact that, amongst others, it wasn’t in agreement with the statute of the US.

“It became clear during the course of the convocation meeting that Afrikaans still enjoys huge support in Stellenbosch and Prof De Villiers said himself that Afrikaans will remain in Stellenbosch. Why would the faculty management suddenly act against the authority of the Rector as well as the convocation management and decide otherwise?” added Marle Odendaal, AfriForum Youth’s Campus Coordinator for Maties. 

AfriForum Youth is currently busy consulting their legal representatives regarding the legal validity of the abovementioned decision.

Support Afrikaans as medium of instruction at Maties by sending an SMS with the word “Maties” to 32687. R1/SMS

Statement issued by Morné Mostert, National Coordinator, AfriForum Youth, 28 January 2016