[lg policy] South Africa: AfriForum welcomes UFS language policy ruling

[Harold Schiffman]

 AfriForum welcomes UFS language policy ruling

Thursday 21 July 2016 14:14

SABC

AfriForum challenged the proposed language policy change at the University
of the Free State. (SABC)
Tags:

   - Free State
   <http://www.sabc.co.za/wps/portal/news/main/tag?tag=Free%20State>
   - University Of The Free State
   <http://www.sabc.co.za/wps/portal/news/main/tag?tag=University%20Of%20The%20Free%20State>
   - Language <http://www.sabc.co.za/wps/portal/news/main/tag?tag=Language>
   - Language Policy
   <http://www.sabc.co.za/wps/portal/news/main/tag?tag=Language%20Policy>
   - Afrikaans
   <http://www.sabc.co.za/wps/portal/news/main/tag?tag=Afrikaans>

AfriForum has welcomed a Free State High Court ruling
<http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/3c82e2804d92c77f871dc74bb456f37b/Court-sets-aside-UFS%E2%80%99s-new-language-policy-20162107>
which set aside a decision by the University of the Free State
<http://www.sabc.co.za/wps/portal/news/main/tag?tag=University%20of%20Free%20State>
(UFS) to do away with Afrikaans as the medium of instruction
<http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/52ba33804c0f6b03a8c6ad86af38e8be/UFSundefinedreadyundefinedtoundefineddefendundefinednewundefinedlanguageundefinedpolicy-20161703>.
AfriForum says the university's decision to scrap Afrikaans would have
affected the rights of students, parents and employees of the university.

According to AfriForum’s deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alana Bailey,
“This is a huge victory for language in South Africa. There are not many
cases in South Africa that focus on language rights  and the fact that we
have won this case is very important to us, but also to the students that
would love to study in Afrikaans at the UFS.”

Civil movement AfriForum challenged the proposed language policy change,
arguing that the removal of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction was
inconsistent with the law.

In March, the University Council reached a unanimous decision to have
English as the primary medium of instruction from 2017.

The university announced in April that English would be the sole language
of instruction on campus.

AfriForum filed a 110-page affidavit to the Free State High Court in which
they stated that outgoing UFS vice chancellor and Rector Prof Jonathan
Jansen confirmed in the past that Afrikaans would be safe for as long as he
remained at the university.

However, AfriForum argued that Jansen and the University Council  reneged
on their promise.

A full bench of judges Ronald Hendricks of the North West High Court,
Limpopo Deputy Judge President Fikile Mokgohloa and Acting High Court Judge
Motimele presided on the matter.

A decision will be announced shortly on the next steps to be taken by the
University in respect of the court finding

http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/db914f004d930aceac31ec4bb456f37b/AfriForum-welcomes-UFS-language-policy-ruling-20160721

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