Kubukeka sengathi impi engenamkhawulo lena yokulwela ukuthi izilimu zakithi zomdabu zihlonishwe nazo zibekwe kwizinga ezikulona. Ingaphezulu kwamashumi amabili nesikhombisa iminyaka abamnyama kuthiwa bakhululeka eNingizimu Afrika kepha kuncane kakhulu okutshengisa ngampela ukuthi sikhululekile. Kwezomnonto namanje indlu ibulawa inkemane awukho umehluko otheni, ngisho kwizinqumo ezinkulu nezincane abomdabu basele emumva njengezinqa impela. Uma kukhulunywa nangezinto ezithinta amalungelo abantu abansundu nazo zishawa indiva zishawa osopolitiki futhi abazigqizi gqakala ngampela. Kungamangaza uma singathi simangazwa ukushawa indiva yokubuyisa isimilo sabansundu ngezindaba ezithinta amasiko kanye nokuhlonishwa kwawo. Uma sikhuluma ngendaba ye “Deconolization of indigenous languages” asikhulumi ngokuthi sifuna kube khona ulimu oluthile oluzochuma lwedlule ezinye. Kepha sikhuluma indaba yokuthi izilimu zethu zomdabu azibekwe ezingeni elihloniphekile. Sikhuluma ngokuthi ezikoleni izilimu zomdabu nazo azinikwe amandla izingane zifundiswe ngazo ezifundweni ezifana nezobuchwepheshe, izibalo ngisho nezo ezolimo nomhlaba.
Kuyihlazo ukuthi izingane azikwazi ukubala ngezilimu zazo ngoba kusuka ebuncaneni bazo zifundiswa ngeSilungu nangeSibhunu. Uma uthi nje izingane zabaMnyama azizisho iminyaka ngolumi lwasekhaya ziyahluleka ukubala. Lokhu kusho khona ukuthi luselude ukhalo okumele luhanjwe. Akukapheli nsuku ezingaki nje inhlangano yamaMhlophe besiBhunu iAfriForum kade inqoba enkantolo ephezulu ilwa nokuthi kukhulunywe ulimu lwesibhunu esikhungweni sezemfundo ephakeme iUNISA. Kuzokhumbuleka ukuthi eminyakeni eyisihlanu eyedlule lesikhungo salukhipha lolulimu njengolimu lokufundisa. Inkantolo Constitutional Court inqumele lesikhungo ugwayi katiki isitshela ukuthi babanika iminyaka embili kusuka kulona ukuthi iguqule isinqumo ngolimu lweSibhunu (Afrikaans). Lokhu kusho khona ke ukuthi impela luselude ukhalo okumele luhanjwe indlu emnyama ekubuyiseni isithunzi sayo. Okulumela kakhulu ukuthi ngisho uhulumeni wabo abamdabu iwona obalahla phansi njengamafinyila esigangeni akayigqizi qakala eyokuthi izilimi zethu zihlonishwe.
Brief overview
It seems like the decolonization of African indigenous languages in South Africa is a victory black South Africans will never taste. While there has been little progress made on decolonization, it is worrisome that we seem to take three steps then ten backward on decolonization. African languages continue to be marginalised, including in academic institutions. Not so long ago the Constitutional Court made a rule in favour of Afrikaans as the medium of communication at UNISA. While this is not surprising it is definitely a barrier to decolonisation and prioritising African indigenous languages.