A group of pro- Afrikaansdemonstrators at the University of Pretoria during a protest on Tuesday — PICTURE: ALON SKUY Why should a minority language like Afrikaans enjoy elevated status in the new South Africa?That is the latest poser from students at the University of Pretoria who are part of the broader student protest movement at universities.“Afrikaans” is a very emotive issue. In the minds of many blacks it is synonymous with apartheid.Don’t forget that it was the rallying point that saw hundreds of thousands of black youth put their education and lives on the line in the student protests of 1976.Afrikaans is not only prominent in formerly white universities but in high schools and primary schools across the country.I’ve heard people in my own circles express their preference for these Afrikaans schools — despite the language — lauding their ability to produce better results than other schools.Custodians and beneficiaries of this language advantage have rigorously defended it, ...
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