OPINION | Stellenbosch University remains committed to inclusive multilingualism

’n Deel van die kampus van die Universiteit Stellenbosch. Foto: Getty Images
It is unacceptable for Stellenbosch University, or any other university in South Africa, to be abused as a political football and punchbag, writes Professor
Wim de Villiers.
Language – more particularly Afrikaans – at Stellenbosch University (SU) has again been hotly discussed in the media over the past while. Is there an actual problem, or are we dealing with opportunism for political gain? I believe it's the latter, and I will be supporting this statement by relying on the facts about SU and language.
From the outset, I admit that things do go wrong sometimes. If students are being instructed not to use Afrikaans in a social context, it is wrong. It is equally wrong if students are being pressurised not to use Afrikaans in a course where Afrikaans is clearly accommodated in the course specifications. This is not our policy; it is not supposed to happen. I am sorry about it; we are investigating and rectifying the matter. 

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