Question NW1159 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
04 May 2022 - NW1159
Schreiber, Dr LA to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Whether he will furnish Dr L A Schreiber with copies of any and all legal opinion(s) that he and/or his department obtained regarding the definition of indigenous languages as used in the revised Language Policy Framework for Higher Education Institutions, dated 30 October 2020, with particular reference to information contained in any legal opinion regarding the exclusion of Afrikaans as well as the Khoi, San and Nama languages from the definition of indigenous languages through the Language Policy Frameworkâs stipulation that only languages belonging to the Southern Bantu language family are considered to be indigenous to South Africa; if not, why not; if so, on what date?
Reply:
My Department is prepared to share the legal advice it has received on the matter regarding the status of Afrikaans and Khoi languages as indigenous languages of South Africa, as well as other documents consulted in developing the Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions (Policy Framework), published on 30 October 2020. This matter has been engaged extensively within the Department and proposed amendments by the legal opinion to the definition of indigenous languages contained in the Policy Framework are underway. The Legal Services section of my Department can compile and make available the required documents on request.