The Islamic roots of Afrikaans
The ‘language of apartheid’ can be traced beyond just the Dutch settlers
Afrikaans
Stellenbosch must tackle overprivileged indifference to become more inclusive
Stellenbosch University’s future success requires white people within its wider community to articulate anti-racism as a genuine political position.
Afrikaans under threat despite there being 7.4 million Afrikaans speakers in South Africa
The Constitution guarantees people’s rights to use the language of their choice but the Khampepe report on Stellenbosch University and the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill undermines this
OPINION | How film can shape our understanding of African queer realities
‘Inxeba/The Wound’ is but one of the films of the growing body of literary and visual texts which have focused on queer lived experiences in Africa.
Sex and censor-bility
Showmax’s ‘Sex in Afrikaans’ explores the continued taboo of representing sex in the Afrikaans language
The first-ever dictionary of South Africa’s Kaaps language has launched – why it matters
It’s been in existence since the 1500s but the Kaaps language, synonymous with Cape Town in South Africa, has never had a dictionary until now
Q&A Sessions: African court ‘will be a tough job’ — Dumisa Ntsebeza
Lawyer, author and political activist Dumisa Ntsebeza talks to Nicolene de Wee about his appointment as judge of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights. He also discusses his work with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, how meditation helps him cope with trauma and his love of James Bond movies. How would you describe […]
Saving southern Africa’s oldest languages
The decline of N|uu dates all the way back to 1652, when the first Europeans arrived by ship at the Cape of Good Hope.
Let’s reinvent Afrikaans (and ourselves) together
It is time we start talking about how we can reinvent Afrikaans through the formation of AfriKaaps
English monolingualism gains the upper hand
South Africa’s failure to encourage multilingualism undermines progress
Focus on digital content for teachers and schoolchildren
Education policy has always been, and will continue to be, closely related to South Africans’ social conditions
White genocide: How the big lie spread to the US and beyond
The radical right takes credit for alerting the world to the alleged persecution of white people in South Africa
Gauteng education department and school in court over additional placements
Hoërskool Overvaal maintains it has reached its capacity while the department said the pupils were denied places based on their language preference.
Court rules in favour of mother tongue education
Bursary scheme favours student teachers from rural areas
The strange places we misplace power
"The power we attribute to the people in whose name apartheid was made is perhaps too generous at times and too limited to the power to have things".
Poets reclaim Cape Town’s historical narrative
A jamboree of poets traverses the city, feels it’s pain and emerges to restore what was taken
English only at varsity is not a remedy
And its use doesn’t mean that education will be more inclusive and equitable
AfriKaaps is an act of reclamation
Linguistic activism is central to destigmatising and celebrating AfriKaaps.
Right-wing radicals back Pretoria University protests
The survivalist group Kommandokorps has warned Afrikaans-speaking students at the university that their language and culture is at stake.
Afrikaners: Stand up for what is right, for our future
A language is not preserved by formal applications, but rather in the home, in the arts and in literature, writes Josua Loots.
Afrikaans varsities perpetuate racial divisions
The use of a language that bars the majority of black African students – who do not understand Afrikaans – is indefensible.
Why Afrikaans doesn’t qualify for special treatment at universities
Those who don’t want English as Stellenbosch’s main language have invoked SA’s Constitution, but the assumptions underlying their arguments are false.
Thousands march over alleged racism at Heidelberg school
Marchers have demanded Heidelberg Hoër Volkskool relooks its decision to phase out English classes, claiming it to be racist and unconstitutional.
Jansen is wrong about English as a primary tuition language, says FF Plus
Free State University rector Jonathan Jansen is wrong if he pleads that all school education in South Africa should be in English, says the FF Plus.
Sinki’s leaving a legacy
Since enrolling at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom campus, Sinki Mlambo has proven herself a leader par excellence.
Teacher union asks for separate Afrikaans exam
The SA Teachers Union has been investigating the possibility of an internationally recognised, separate Afrikaans matric examination, says a report.
Sweet, soet, Sotho, boet, ‘n egg en ek
My brother and I grew up in an Afrikaans home, fighting about politics, but he can still surprise me, writes Charles Leonard.
Oh broeder, where is the volk now?
It is doubtful that a homogeneous volk ever really existed, but the debate about Afrikaner identity – and its future – has not run its full course.
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The dangers of exclusive language universities
Exclusively Afrikaans universities would disastrously imprison white students in single-race and monolingual environments, warns Jonathan Jansen.