By Sisipho Ngcumbe

With roots stretching across continents and cultures, the language has long been at the centre of South Africa's cultural, political and educational landscape. But its future continues to stir debate, particularly in light of recent changes to the language policy in schools.

Afrikaans is spoken by more than 7 million people as a first language in the country, making it the third most spoken home language in SA after IsiZulu and IsiXhosa.  The language’s roots go beyond the numbers.

The language emerged in the 17th century Cape as a contact language, shaped by Dutch, indigenous Khoi and San languages, Malay, Portuguese, and the tongues of enslaved people from across the globe. Over time, it became a mother tongue for diverse communities, particularly within coloured, white, and some black South African populations. The Nelson Mandela University Afrikaans Lecturer, Professor Anna Otto, says the language has undergone an evolution over the past 100 years.

“In 1926 already, the Bureau of the Woorderboek of the Afrikaans Taal already started to develop a very inclusive dictionary for Afrikaans, Die Woordeboek Van Die Afrikaanse Taal and they already finished, they have got a little "t" now in their pockets, which is wonderful. then about every 10 years. We see a new version of the handwoordeboek of the Afrikaanse Taal, we all know it as hat, there is in verklaarende Afrikaans a Woordeboek and a thesaurus of Professor de Stadler, there are so many terminology lists,” Otto said.

Afrikaans was once again in the headlines with the enactment of SA’s Basic Education Laws Amendment law. The new legislation gives government greater power over school language policies, a move some Afrikaans communities say threatens mother tongue education. Otto says the government could do more to preserve the language.

“He language that you grew up with and become multilingual but if you don't get a chance to do so then you to English schools and usually those students are lost for life, they don't go back to Afrikaans or IsiXhosa in that regard,” Otto said.

Among young people on the country’s Nelson Mandela University campus, opinions on Afrikaans are diverse, with many seeing the value in preserving the language.

“ I think a lot of Afrikaans stuff is being taken away so just keep it as it is, the traditions behind it and keep the people that really feel for the language and for people to keep going to school in their language will be great,” said one people.

“I think they have the right to celebrate their language since it’s been there for long because we do get to speak our own language so I think they should have the right to celebrate their own,” said another.

“I was taught Afrikaans at school, I went to a Afrikaans and English school from grade 1 till grade 5, I thought oh I’m learning a new language and what I thought was interesting is that other languages weren't really offered as other languages at school,” said another people.

In historic Afrikaans communities like Bethelsdorp in Gqeberha, where descendants of the Khoi and San still live, Afrikaans is spoken daily but with a twist. It’s seasoned with memory, resistance, and identity. Community leaders Marvin Draai and Edmund Stuurman reflect on Afrikaans as a language that has helped preserve their stories.

“Yes, there were the Dutch, there were the French but this is a spoken language, and its development came from our people that the worked in the homes and on the land that spoke the language and thus developed the language. So the Koi and the Sans contribution is significant and of course, it hasn't necessarily been recognized that way, but we are a proud people and we are speaking the language and we continue to speak the language, because we own it,” Draai said.

Stuurman shares his sentiments.

“When we were at school together and you spoke Afrikaans, it was almost as if you were a lesser person if you couldn't speak the English language, and little did we know at the time, what Afrikaans meant and where it was coming from, but lately now, what we understand now is that it's us. many of the words that create even like a word, like "eina!" , it's a Koi word that's spoken in Afrikaans and is being used by all in sundry in in SA. So, I think Afrikaans must stay, must remain an official language, and it's and it's good for the preservation of our culture,” Stuurman said.

Reaching the milestone of one hundred years since declared an official language, Afrikaans continues to evolve, It is more than a means of communication, it is a mirror of South Africa's complex past and contested future. Its next chapter is being written not only in classrooms and courts, but in homes, communities, and hearts.

---SABC---