Stellenbosch University has apologised to students over the ban on Afrikaans in 2021. Image: Facebook/ Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University apologises for ban on Afrikaans
Stellenbosch University apologised to students in Minerva and Irene who were affected by the practice during the welcoming week in 2021.
Stellenbosch University has apologised to students over the ban on Afrikaans in 2021. Image: Facebook/ Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University (SU) issued an apology to students affected by the ban on Afrikaans in two ladies’ residences.
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DA WELCOMES APOLOGY BY STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has since welcomed the public and “unequivocal” apology issued by Stellenbosch University on Monday evening.
“The university’s apology alludes to all aspects, and the DA will closely monitor implementation, including the proposed change to the language policy which we initially suggested.”
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In the statement, the university said it “unequivocally apologises to all students in Minerva and Irene who felt that their human rights and dignity were affected by not being able to speak Afrikaans in a social context”.
The university said that it would enact extensive training on applying and implementing the language policy for all its student leaders.
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SAHRC REPORT ON THE LANGUAGE POLICY DURING WELCOMING WEEK
As previously reported, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) found Stellenbosch University guilty of violating the rights of Afrikaans-speaking students in 2021.
DA leader, John Steenhuisen filed a complaint with the SAHRC after some students complained that they could only speak English during their welcoming week in 2021.
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The “English-only” policy was applied in all welcoming activities led by certain residences. Some of the Afrikaans students were singled out during the welcoming week if they chose to speak Afrikaans.
In a report released, the SAHRC said the policy required all students at the residences to speak English exclusively.
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“It is important to note that the residence policy did not apply within academic contexts. It was limited to the residences in question and their daily operations during the welcoming period of 2021.”
