The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, will be bringing to the attention of the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, the contents of the letter written by Dr Leon Schreiber and the Democratic Alliance (DA) on the language policy framework within the Post School Education and Training sector.
“It is now clear what Dr Schreiber is asking for is the change in the status of Afrikaans as a language. The matter is not in my constitutional purview as the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, but in Minister Mthethwa’s purview.
Minister Nzimande said that the Department of Higher Education and Training is responsible for the language policy in Higher Education in particular and in the Post School Education and Training in general. “This is about using the language policy within the confines of the PSET sector. It is not about the general status of Afrikaans as a language in South Africa,” emphasised Minister Nzimande.
“I wish to draw to the attention of Dr Schreiber that I have already released the draft Language policy for consultation in the PSET sector and the Democratic Alliance has the right to engage in the debate rather than try to circumvent the debate as they are currently doing,” the Minister said.
Upon the conclusion of the consultation process, I will therefore table the final draft language policy to Cabinet and to parliament.
