On Wednesday, 22 September 2021, the Constitutional Court ruled that the University of South Africa (UNISA) must have Afrikaans as a medium of teaching and learning.
Why must UNISA now teach in Afrikaans?
Five years ago, UNISA decided to revise its language policy and phase out Afrikaans as a medium of teaching and learning. However, after the decision was made AfriForum, an organisation that seeks to protect the rights of Afrikaans-speakers, took UNISA to court. This led to the Constitutional Court reviewing the decision and declaring it unconstitutional.
The basis of the arguments raised against the decision made by UNISA to stop the teaching in Afrikaans was because the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) felt that the decision contradicted Section 9(2) of the constitution. Section 9(2) states that everyone has the right to receive education in the official language of their choice.
The media statement released by the ConCourt stated that UNISA decided to revise its language policy in 2016 to be respectful of other indigenous African languages. Therefore, the UNISA Senate and council saw it best to remove all courses taught in both English and Afrikaans. UNISA was given until the beginning of the 2023 academic year to revise its language policy.
(1/2) Judgment on Wednesday, 22 September, at 15h00: The revised language policy seeking to phase out teaching and learning in Afrikaans adopted by UNISA is unconstitutional.
— Constitutional Court (@ConCourtSA) September 22, 2021
Social Media reactions to the ruling of the Constitutional court
After the ConCourt announced the victory of the Afriforum organisation, many on social media felt the implementation of Afrikaans as a medium of teaching and learning at UNISA is not representative of all the other official languages in South Africa.
Here are some of the tweets that we picked out.
Sorry guys but the Unisa and Afriforum rulling will only benefit Afrikaans. As Africans we are so divided to core, instead of developing Isizulu or Sepedi everyone will be trying to push their language or sub language. Divide and Rule is a weapon conquered Africa.
— Melissa Nelly (@MelissaNe10) September 23, 2021
What is so special about Afrikaans @ConCourtSA ? Why not other languages that are spoken by majority of people in SA #unisa
— Stimela Ntshangase (@Stimela_Mgazi) September 23, 2021
ConCourt keeps taking South Africa backwards, creating opportunity for chaos. If Zulus, Xhosas, Swazis, Sothos, Tshwanas,Vendas,Tsongas, etc all demand the same thing and not just in Unisa but even that Afrikaans University in Centurion&all schools then what? #Ramaphosamustfall https://t.co/j5PiFL0iwY
— Lindie Langa (@AwaitedOne1) September 22, 2021
If UNISA agree to teach with Afrikaans my African Brothers we demand our own languages.
— SNEPTO4 (@SN_Nzimande) September 23, 2021
ISIZULU, ISIXHOSA, XITSONGA, TSHIVENDA, SETSWANA, SESOTHO SESWATI, SEPEDI AND ISINDEBELE