Educational interpreting into isiXhosa in classes should again be available at Stellenbosch University (SU) from next year.
This is according to Martin Viljoen, Stellenbosch University spokesperson. Viljoen was responding to claims made at a recent Student Representative Council (SRC) caucus, where participants suggested that multilingualism was not a priority on campus.
In written correspondence, Viljoen told SMF News that while isiXhosa interpretation in lecture halls is not compulsory in terms of the university’s current language policy, the university would like to implement it in the future.
“A training process is currently being set up to train more interpreters for isiXhosa, and by next year we should be again able to offer educational interpreting into isiXhosa in class where there is a pedagogical need,” he said. These services had been present in classes in the past.
Students’ take on SU’s multilingualism practices
Multilingualism became a topic of heated discussion during a caucus held at SU’s Wimbledon Hub on 21 July, in the run-up to the recent SRC elections.
The topic was first aired when an audience member claimed that SU only prioritised facilitating English in lecture halls.
The student further claimed that, while Afrikaans translation services were readily available to students, the university seemed to, in general, lack acknowledgement towards isiXhosa and other South African languages.
According to the university’s 2021 language policy, which is currently under review, SU currently considers itself a multilingual institution, which focuses its institutional language practices on Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa.
A Student Representative Council (SRC) candidates caucus held at Stellenbosch University’s Wimbledon Hub on 21 July became a space of heated debate around multilingualism on campus. The caucus also dealt with issues like Gender-Based Violence, racism and inequality on campus. PHOTO: Dylan Lackay
The student’s comments resulted in lively discussion by SRC candidates, including Ndikhokele Mgcineni, who claimed that isiXhosa was only accommodated when there were resources.
“The university is not actively doing something in order to promote isiXhosa,” claimed Mgcineni. “It makes it so that isiXhosa is treated like something that is optional.”
Commenting on these statements, Viljoen, told SMF News that the institution is “committed to increasing the use of isiXhosa, to the extent that this is reasonably practicable”.
“SU’s Department of African Languages provides advanced-level teaching and research in isiXhosa language and linguistics from bachelor to doctorate level,” said Viljoen.
“IsiXhosa is also used in certain programmes to facilitate effective learning and teaching, especially where it may be important for career purposes,” he said.
A ‘unified stand’ needed against GBV, racism, and inequality
Other topics under discussion during the caucus included Gender-Based Violence (GBV), racism, and inequality, with many of the candidates agreeing that there had in the past been a disconnect between students and former SRC bodies.
“GBV is not only a fight for women. Racism is not only a fight for people of colour. And inequality is not only a fight for the marginalised,” said Kouthaar Cupido, who was present as an SRC candidate, and who got elected to the SRC.
“It is important that we take a bold and unified stand against these matters,” she said.
Kouthaar Cupido addresses the room during her opening statement at the Student Representative Council (SRC) caucus on 21 July. She emphasized the importance of unity between students and the SRC. “It is important that we take a bold and unified stand against these matters,” she said. PHOTO: Dylan Lackay
Liyema Langa, a fellow SRC candidate, who also got elected to the SRC, also felt that there was a need for students and the SRC to work together.
“The time is now for us to take up space and fight together,” said Langa. “The thing that we have been doing wrong is that we have not been united.”
Liyema Langa addressing the room during his opening statement at a Stellenbosch University Student Representative Council (SRC) caucus. During his statement he addressed a disconnect between former SRC committees and the student body. “The thing that we have been doing wrong is that we have not been united,” he said. PHOTO: Dylan Lackay