The Democratic Alliance says the African National Congress’s hatred of Afrikaans will not be enforced on the Afrikaans Language Monument and Museum following a proposed name change by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
President Cyril Ramaphosa reportedly assured the DA that the Monument will not be forced to change its name.
ATTEMPT TO REMOVE AFRIKAANS REBUKED
In May, a number of high-profile Afrikaans singers and the DA in the Western Cape protested in Paarl where the Monument is located.
Trade union Solidariteit also issued a statement, accusing ANC ministers of trying to ‘steal the identity of a community’. One representative of the group made a passionate defence of the language, arguing that no name change can alter history.
“Who is going to steal a place that celebrates someone else’s identity and heritage, to stick someone else’s name on it? It will not change the symbolism after all. It will not change history, and it will not change the characteristics of Afrikaans or its place in society.”
NEW DEVELOPMENT ON AFRIKAANS LANGUAGE MONUMENT NAME CHANGE
The DA said it is good that the ANC has seen reason and that its ideological hatred of Afrikaans will not be enforced on the Afrikaans Language Monument and Afrikaans speakers in this regard.
The party said should the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, ever backtrack on his backtrack regarding the Afrikaans Language Monument’s name, it will fight it once more.
“We will not allow any indigenous languages to be trampled on, including Afrikaans.
“We also call on Minister Mthethwa to state unequivocally on a public platform that the ATM’s name will not be changed. The Minister should also apologise to the ATM board, as his backpedaling seems to be an effort to make the board look like liars.”
Veronica van Dyk MP – DA Deputy Shadow Minister for Sports, Arts and Culture
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