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On language, power and privilege in tertiary education

Advocates of retaining Afrikaans as a language of instruction are blind to their own prejudices

Breakup: Students and protesters clash at the University of the Free State in 2011. Police had to separate the opposing groups.

UFS langauge policy led to racial tension

But the ConCourt’s minority judgment said the court had ignored the dominance of English

Suidooster reflects the multiplicity of Afrikaans-speaker’s experiences in an engaging soapie format.

​Afrikaans soapie Suidooster speaks to us in a refreshingly familiar tongue

With its authentic depiction of coloured people, TV’s newest soapie is giving Afrikaans a new spotlight to shine in.

English given equal status at Stellenbosch, made primary language of instruction at University of Pretoria

Stellenbosch has also committed to growing isiXhosa in effort to ‘facilitate social cohesion and promote inclusivity’.

Diversity

Diversity, not division, in lecture halls

Using English as the main medium of instruction at Tukkies will help build a new, inclusive culture.

Whiteness, not Afrikaans, must fall

It is not the language but the excluding culture that causes problems.

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.

Never far from controversy

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.

SA is rich in undervalued languages, but greedy for more

"We are such a multilingual country, but in government, when you hear people talk, you think we are a bilingual country"

Blade: No enemy of Afrikaans – but it can’t dominate tertiary institutions

The education minister criticised the domination of Afrikaans in teaching – and called on former Afrikaans universities to enrol more black students.

M&G file photo

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.

AfriForum challenges Nzimande over YCL statement

SACP leader Blade Nzimande has been challenged by AfriForum to tell the public whether he associates himself with the statements of the YCL.

Language of division and diversion

Afrikaans identity politics at Stellenbosch distracts from real challenges, writes a group of the university’s academics.