DELMAS – Mpumalanga MEC of Education, Bonakele Majuba, said it is non-negotiable for Isindebele to be taught in Delmas schools as it is the main language in the Highveld region of Mpumalanga.
MEC was speaking at a meeting held at the Endumbeni Cultural and Creative Arts centre, on 17 February where he was requested to intervene due to delays to introduce the language as a subject at schools in Delmas. The urgent intervention by the MEC was requested as the activists of the language felt there is going to be another year of delay to introduce the language in the Delmas schools.
On 4 February, the language activists which consist of the CEO of Endumbeni, Sipho Mahamba, and Sbusiso Mahlangu, Chiefs of the Ndzundza-Hlanga Traditional Authority and other organisations expressed their disappointment on the Department of Education in delaying to roll-out the language as a subject in Delmas schools.
SEE ALSO: Education department urged to introduce Isindebele language in schools
The department reported in the previous meeting that the statistics on the enrolment of the language were too low for the language to be introduced. The language activists argued that other languages such as Sesotho (North and South) including Setswana are at times taught with a minimum of four learners in Delmas schools and this should not be different from Isindebele.
Majuba said, “Language is a very sensitive thing and it is the right of its speakers to learn and practice it, even the Language policy is clear about Isindebele as one of the languages in Mpumalanga and should have been rendered a long time ago.
“However even with that observation, the language is not limited to Mpumalanga, it should be taught anywhere in South Africa just like other languages,” added Majuba, who further apologised to the Chiefs and activists for having to advocate for something which is their right.
Majuba requested the Head of the Department at the Department of Education, Rollanda Nkosi, to intervene and find available teachers of the language so that teaching and learning could commence immediately. He further recommended that a follow-up action plan meeting should be held on 19 February for the roll-out plan of the language in schools.
