Afrikaans for Afri...kans?

Many South Africans who enjoy watching our authentic and local soapies, were horrified when news emerged that producers were considering reducing the amount of Afrikaans actors speak on the programme, 7de Laan. 

I, like many of those fans, am livid. Many viewers have voiced their unhappiness over the proposal saying one of the upsides of having such a good Afrikaans soapie is that kids have an opportunity to learn die taal.

So why the need to dilute the language? Whoever made the decision needs to have a rethink. 

When I was in high school I failed Afrikaans twice. One of the conditions to pass was to pass ALL LANGUAGES! You could get distinctions in all subjects but if you failed a language, you could not move on to the next grade.

You know, had 7de Laan been around back then, I would've probably done better in Afrikaans. I loved watching TV, especially educational programmes.

I'm aware there's a stigma attached to the language for some people due to our country's history. I also grew up in our beautiful country during its transformation and for me, I really wanted to embrace all things South African. Afrikaans is OURS as South Africans. We need to preserve it in its entirety. Diluting it is just not a option.

A few months ago, I went on a road trip to Hermanus. I stopped over in Wellington to fill up and the forecourt attendants were super friendly, sociable and extremely welcoming. These guys were true South African ambassadors. Get this, they spoke to me in Afrikaans. Ek verstaan die taal but sadly I can't communicate very well. Despite my language short comings, the staff there were so polite to me. Bless their hearts! After that episode, I promised myself I’d learn to be fluent in Afrikaans in the next five years.

A lot of people may feel that, as a black person I'm betraying the indigenous languages, by opposing the reduction of Afrikaans on 7de Laan. However, a language never oppressed anyone. That’s something driven by human behaviour.

Please leave 7de laan as it is! Oubaas's romantic one liners are pure gold.