A local activist group recently held a silent protest outside the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) Wallenberg Research Centre with the intention of drawing attention to the alleged exclusion of Afrikaans within Stellenbosch University (SU) residences and organisations.
The protest, which was organised by Beweging 9 April (B94), took place on 10 May, according to Frederik van Dyk, the spokesperson for B94. The protestors wore masks with a crossed out word, ‘Afrikaans’, written on them. This was a symbol of Afrikaans solidarity, said Van Dyk.
Protestors wearing red and gold bands on their arms wait for the Human Rights Commission hearing on the Stellenbosch University language policy controversy to begin on 10 May. PHOTO: Wessel Krige
B94 is a protest organisation that aims to create a sustainable, inclusive and vibrant place for the Afrikaans language at Stellenbosch University (SU), according to the B94 Facebook page.
“We want to indicate that we stand in solidarity with all the Afrikaans students who were affected by the enforcement of the English-only policy in residences and student communities,” said Van Dyk.
The protest, which was organised by Beweging 9 April, took place at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study Wallenberg Research Centre on 10 May. It aimed to draw attention to the alleged exclusion of Afrikaans within Stellenbosch University residences and organisations. PHOTO: Wessel Krige
The protest took place while Prof Wim de Villiers, rector and vice-chancellor of SU, was appearing before the Human Rights Commission within the STIAS centre to address the language policy controversy that has been taking place at SU, according to Van Dyk.
At the hearing, De Villiers stated that, “[t]here is no English-only policy in residences. And students should not be prohibited from speaking Afrikaans or any other language.” This was according to a media statement released by SU on 10 May.
According to B94, SU does not provide sufficient space for Afrikaans to exist as a sustainable academic language. Van Dyk claimed that Afrikaans had been disrespected and said he hoped that the university would “admit” this and would “apologise to the Afrikaans community”.
The protest by Beweging 9 April took place while Prof Wim De Villiers, rector and vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), participated in a hearing before the Human Rights Commission. The hearing addressed the language policy controversy that has been taking place at SU. PHOTO: Wessel Krige
Dr Leslie van Rooi, the senior director of social impact and transformation at SU, said that the issue should be addressed through further discussion.
“Should [B94] be of the opinion that we do not allow enough space for Afrikaans to exist as a sustainable academic language, then we will have to further engage on the matter,” said Van Rooi.
The university welcomes a diversity of viewpoints and debate, according to Martin Viljoen, spokesperson for SU.