Africa-Press – South-Africa. Stellenbosch University (SU) has apologised to students at two residences after it was found that their rights were violated in 2021 when they were instructed to speak only English during their welcoming period.
In a statement issued late on Monday, the university said it “unequivocally apologises to all students in Minerva and Irene [residences] who… felt that their human rights and dignity were affected by not being able to speak Afrikaans in a social context”.
Last month, a South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) investigation found that the university violated the rights of Afrikaans-speaking students when it said they could only speak English in certain residences during their welcoming period.
The DA and FF Plus filed a complaint with the SAHRC in March 2021.
As part of its apology, SU said it would implement extensive training on applying and implementing the language policy for student leaders.
It stated:
The SU council said there were some aspects of the SAHRC report on language in SU residences that it wished to respond to more fully or even challenge, but added that it would begin implementing the recommendations ahead of the May deadline.
“SU reiterated its previous statements that the conduct of the nature set out in the SAHRC report, which limited the speaking of Afrikaans at residences, is wrong and should never have happened.”
“As the SAHRC indicated, the university’s language policy would not have allowed any student to be prohibited from speaking their language of choice in social circumstances,” the university said.
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