The ANC-ed government has to elevate indigenous languages from the periphery of marginalisation into mainstream of use, according to independent political analyst GoodEnough Mashigo.
Mashigo said there were 12 official languages in the country, which interpreters in Parliament are able to be interpreted.
“The ANC should have in the past 30 years promoted, developed other indigenous languages that were marginalised by the apartheid when homelands and Bantustans were created to make sure they enjoy the official status.
“For example Sepulana in Mpumalanga is spoken by over one million people but it’s not considered an official language and if you go to Mpumalanga legislature, you won’t get an interpreter for that,” he explained.
Mashigo said it was unfortunate that the government did not see anything wrong in continuing with the set-up of the Bantustan government of segregating the people according to their ethnicity.
This comes after Parliament Deputy Speaker, Annelie Lotriet, refused some members of Parliament from speaking indigenous languages in a sitting last Friday.
Parliamentarians caused an uproar when Lotriet allowed an Afrikaans speaking member to express himself in Afrikaans while she refused for others to speak in their indigenous languages.
This also caused backlash on social media where people expressed how Lotriet’s conduct was “a blatant act of linguistic discrimination which did not only undermine the principles of democracy but also deprived the very people who voted for those members the opportunity to listen and engage on matters that directly affect them”.
“Welcome to South Africa, where it seems the ANC has inadvertently reverted the country to a colonial-era mentality.
“The Constitution, once a beacon of hope and equality, now appears to be selectively enforced. It often seems responsive only when white voices demand attention, while black voices and their languages are marginalised. The judicial interpretation of the Constitution frequently seems to serve white interests, further alienating the black majority.
“This incident highlights the urgent need for constitutional reform. How can a Deputy Speaker refuse the use of African languages in a country where these languages represent the majority of the population? Such actions not only disrespect the cultural heritage of South Africa but also reinforce a system of exclusion and inequality,” @Kza_Soze tweeted.
@Kza_Soze said the country’s Constitution should serve all South Africans equally, regardless of race or language.
“It’s time to address these systemic issues and ensure that the rights and voices of the black majority are upheld and respected. Only by embracing linguistic diversity and ensuring true equality can South Africa hope to move forward from its colonial past and build a more inclusive future.”
Mashigo continued to say that the inferiority of African languages was the making of government’s failure to miss the opportunity of asking provincial legislatures to legislate languages instead of making it a national policy.
The Star