This year with Afrikaans Language Day ("Afrikaanse Taaldag"), the FF Plus celebrates all those who speak and promote the language.
Afrikaans is a cherished language for many South Africans, so, it must be protected and promoted, and many speakers and organisations strive to do just that. There are, however, some who want to use Afrikaans as a political pawn.
While the onslaught on Afrikaans is fierce, there are some political parties and organisations that are exploiting the fight to protect Afrikaans for political gain.
The ANC government frequently launches attacks on Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in education as well as in other fields. One example of this is the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande, who refused to recognise Afrikaans as an indigenous language of South Africa, and the Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, who wanted to change the name of the Afrikaans Taal Monument.
These are just a few examples of how the ANC is openly targeting Afrikaans to score cheap political points.
A direct consequence of the ANC’s politicking is that millions of Afrikaans-speaking South Africans feel excluded and marginalised because their mother tongue is not being recognised, valued and respected as it ought to be.
It runs counter to the so-called nation building and social cohesion objectives contained in the ANC's National Development Plan.
Oppressing a language usually has the opposite effect as that language goes on to flourish thanks to its loyal speakers.
This year, the FF Plus is celebrating all those who hold Afrikaans dear as their mother tongue and colloquial language.
The people and organisations that endeavour to promote and protect Afrikaans, those who use and expand Afrikaans every day as an academic and scientific language, and those who teach their children Afrikaans as their mother tongue to ensure that Afrikaans goes from strength to strength from one generation to the next.
The spirit of Afrikaans is one of survival and self-determination. There where the government tries to oppress the language is precisely where it will flourish.
The FF Plus is committed to the promotion of mother-tongue education and the safeguarding of Afrikaans as an official language.
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