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Media verklaring - 23 September 2021
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Konstitusionele Hof en uitspraak oor Unisa taalbeleid
(Scroll down for English statement)
Verklaring deur Dries Wiese
Voorsitter van die Afrikanerbond
Konstitusionele Hof en UNISA Taalbeleid – Dit is jammer dat die howe die diversiteit van Suid-Afrika moet beskerm aan die vooraand van Erfenisdag
Die Afrikanerbond het gister met besondere vreugde kennis geneem van die Konstitusionele Hof se uitspraak dat Unisa se taalbeleid ongrondwetlik en onregmatig is. Langs die weg wens ons AfriForum graag geluk met die toetrede tot die saak teen Unisa en hulle deursettingsvermoë om die saak na 5 jaar afgehandel te kry.
Art 29(2) waarop die uitspraak berus, bepaal dat elkeen die reg het om onderrig in een of meer amptelike tale volgens eie keuse in openbare onderwysinstellings, wat volgens die uitspraak ook hoër onderwysinstellings insluit, te ontvang. Om hierdie reg te verseker, kan die staat alle redelike onderwys-alternatiewe oorweeg, ook enkelmedium instellings, solank sulke instellings voldoen aan die vereistes van gelykheid, praktiese uitvoerbaarheid en die aanspreek van diskriminerende wette en praktyke van die verlede. Voorts het elkeen die reg om privaat onderwysinrigtings op te rig solank dié instellings nie ras-diskrimerend is nie, by die staat geregistreer is en dieselfde standaarde as openbare instellings handhaaf. Die staat mag sulke private instellings subsidieer.
Dit bly egter onverkwiklik dat die regering diversiteit predik maar eentaligheid toepas. Aan die vooraand van Erfenisdag is die uitspraak dus gepas deurdat dit die taalregte van studente erken en ʼn bepaalde verpligting ten opsigte van uitvoering aan Unisa opgelê het. Dit is ewe onverkwiklik dat taal- en kultuurgemeenskappe hulle in die finale instansie na die howe moet wend om hulle regte op te eis aangesien diverse tale met spesifieke verwysing na Afrikaans, grootliks uitgerangeer word, veral by histories Afrikaanse universiteite.
Die Grondwet bevat bepaalde taalreëlings wat tot dusver nie na behore nagekom of volgens die uitspraak teen Unisa, ongrondwetlik en onregmatig is. Die neiging tot dusver was om ‘n meertalige Suid-Afrika te verander na ‘n Engels-eentalige Suid-Afrika. Dit gaan nie om ‘n stryd tussen tale nie, maar om die behoud en die uitbouing van tale, waaronder Afrikaans en die ander inheemse tale.
Dit bly daarom voortdurend nodig om te beding vir ‘n ononderhandelbare verbintenis vir die gelyke beregting van al 10 inheemse gebruikstale. Engels mag nooit die enigste bevoorregte taal wees nie. Ons hoop en vertrou dat ander universiteite en instellings deeglik kennis geneem het van die uitspraak!
23 September 2021
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Statement by Dries Wiese
Chairperson of the Afrikanerbond
Constitutional Court and UNISA Language Policy – It is a pity that the courts have to protect the diversity of South Africa on the eve of Heritage Day
It is with much satisfaction that the Afrikanerbond yesterday noted the ruling by the Constitutional Court that Unisa's language policy is unconstitutional and unlawful. We wish to congratulate AfriForum on instituting proceedings against Unisa and on their perseverance over the course of five years to have the matter settled.
S 29(2), on which the judgement rests, determines that everyone has the right to receive education in the official language of their choice in public educational institutions, which, according to the ruling, also includes higher education institutions. To ensure this right, the state can consider all reasonable educational alternatives, including single-medium institutions, as long as such institutions meet the requirements of equality and reasonable practicability, and address past discriminatory laws and practices. Furthermore, everyone has the right to set up private educational institutions as long as these institutions are not racially discriminatory, are registered with the state and maintain the same standards as public institutions. The state may subsidise such private institutions.
It remains unfortunate, however, that government preaches diversity while applying monolingualism. On the eve of Heritage Day, the judgement is therefore appropriate in that it recognises the language rights of students and imposed a particular obligation in respect of execution at Unisa. It is equally unfortunate that language and cultural communities are forced to turn to the courts in the final instance to claim their rights, as various languages, with specific reference to Afrikaans, are largely excluded, especially at historically Afrikaans universities.
The Constitution contains certain language arrangements that have so far not been properly observed or, as the ruling against Unisa reflects, are unconstitutional and unlawful. The trend so far has been to change a multilingual South Africa into an English-monolingual South Africa. It is not about a struggle between languages, but about the preservation and expansion of languages, including Afrikaans and the other indigenous languages. Therefore, it remains continuously necessary to negotiate a binding commitment to the equal treatment of all 10 indigenous languages in official use. English should never be the only privileged language. We hope and trust that other universities and institutions have taken careful note of the ruling!
23 September 2021
