Issued by: Office of the President
MEMORANDUM TO PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA ON THE SCHEDULE MEETING WITH AFRIKAANS ORGANIZATIONS ON FRIDAY 29 MARCH 1996 IN PRETORIA
We would like to thank the President indeed for this opportunity to discuss with him educational and cultural issues which we regard to constitute a pressing problem. We appreciate his willingness to meet with us personally.
1. INTRODUCTION:
2. OUR PROBLEM AND REQUEST:
Education is presently in a great degree of uncertainty and the divergent interpretations in connection with linguistic, cultural and religious rights, which in essence is the result of too vague stipulations in the Transitional Constitution. This results in conflicting views, a very confusing education set-up and polarization. President MANDELA for example assures Afrikaners that they have nothing to fear concerning the survival of their schools. Obviously there are many who do not share his broader minded interpretation. These narrower minded interpretations are reflected in the most recent White Paper, communiques by the Gauteng education authority and also other provincial departments. Schools are being put under immense pressure to convert to multilingual schools. A point of view is propagated that section 32 (c) of the Transitional Constitution making provision for schools based on a specific language, religion or culture refers to private schools only and that public schools cannot have a particular character since they are public property.
This divergent interpretations and applications of stipulations on education in the Transitional Constitution results in a loss of a feeling of security because of the fact that nobody knows what kind of linguistic or religious rights apply and what is mere pretence. There is much confusion and uncertainty which is not conducive to peace an stability in education. It leads to polarization. All this because the relevant provision of the Constitution is very vague and inconclusive in this respect.
We have already informed Minister Bengu's department, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC's study group on education, and we now would like to inform the President as well of an increasing and general disenchantment amongst Afrikaners throughout the entire spectrum. In this matter Afrikaners are united despite their differences. The fact that this interview is taking place with a common goal and mission, is an historical event and has a deep significance. For our people nothing is ever nearly as sensitive as our language, culture and faith and interrelated with that the education of our children. In our history our periods of heroic struggle coincide with our language, beliefs and schools becoming endangered. This is the Afrikaner's most sensitive spot and it relates to his struggle for survival.
For us the uncertainty and disenchantment surrounding our schools is a national crisis and therefore we sincerely hope that the final Constitution will with the President's help and leadership succeed in ensuring a feeling of security. We are bound to say quite honestly: if the final Constitution cannot do better than the present first option under clause 28, it will find no support whatsoever, amongst Afrikaners it will be considered to be a step even backwards and the Constitution will meet with stern opposition.
This of course have also implications for developing a spirit of reconciliation. We acknowledge that the less privileged communities in South-Africa have great backlogs and that we cannot stand aloof or indifferent. We believe that these backlogs can sufficiently be addressed through the RDP and legislation on education. There is in fact all kinds of efforts amongst our communities also to help. But in this regard two remarks.
2.1 If the Constitution would acknowledge and protect our rights, and also the survival of Afrikaans public schools, then the Constitution by doing so will rid Afrikaners of the resentment, confusion and struggle in which they have become entangled. Then Afrikaners will be freed to make their powers and expertise so much more available to those communities who also have their struggle, a struggle of upliftment and empowerment;
2.2 A second remark: It is a mistaken view that retaining single Afrikaans medium schools with a particular ethos within the public sector is divisive and that it negates the principle of multilingualism, on the contrary we believe it can only promote multilingualism in the country provided that other official languages are also part of the curriculum. Internationally it is increasingly acknowledged that democracy, majority rule and the protection of minority rights are inherently not in conflict with one another. Not only unity but also diversity is to the common good of South Africa.
3. INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR OUR REQUEST:
With reference to the Working Draft of the New Constitution our basic request is that clause 28 (1) and (2) should be redefined as on its own it cannot protect the existence of our Christian Afrikaans schools. This draft clause does also not satisfy the demands of the Convention Against Discrimination in Education, that is the explicit right to establish and maintain schools for religious or linguistic reasons. It also is not in line with the most recent findings of an international Congress on Minority rights, held in Bremen during DECEMBER 1995. It is also lacking in comparison to constitutional provisions in countries such as India, Belgium, Canada etc. While we accept that South Africa has to be careful not to transplant foreign formulations indiscreetly, these foreign stipulations contain democratic principles which are universally applicable.
4. A LAST THOUGHT:
The Minister of Education recently announced a policy of partnership between school communities and their respective education departments. This partnership is only workable if the Constitution provided clear directives as to the applications of fundamental rights such as education, language, culture and religious rights. If the Constitution does not effectively protect these rights against the possible unfair domination by the state, then partnership will became endangered - with all negative results for the education system. Without clear guidance from the Constitution as to these rights, Minister Bengu's schools policy cannot be fully realized.
TEENWOORDIGHEIDSLYN VIR 'N GESPREK MET MNR. MANDELA OP VRYDAG, 29 MAART 1996 OM 10:00 BY MAHLAMBA NDLOPFU
1. PROF. C. SWANEPOEL (VOORSITTER) (FEDERASIE VAN AFRIKAANSE KULTUURVERENIGINGE)
2. DS. H. CRONJE (FEDERASIE VAN AFRIKAANSE KULTUURVERENIGINGE)
3. DR. P. EDWARDS (ONDERWYSKOMITTEE, FEDERASIE VAN AFRIKAANSE KULTUURVERENIGINGE)
4. DR. E.J. HAY (ALGEMENE JEUGKOMMISSIE, NEDERDUITS GEREFORMEERDE KERK)
5. Me.E. JORDAAN (AFRIKAANSE TAAL-EN KULTUURVERENIGING)
6. DR. T. KING (NASIONALE PARTY)
7. PROF. P.A. KRUGER (TRANSVAALSE ONDERWYSERSVERENIGING)
8. DR. C. LANDMAN (VRYHEIDSFRONT)
9. MNR. S. PIENAAR (SUID-AFRIKAANSE ONDERWYSERSUNIE)
10. DR. B. SCHOEMAN (AFRIKANERBOND)
11. MNR. H. SMIT (SUID-AFRIKAANSE ONDERWYSERSFEDERASIE)
12. DR. C. STANDER (FEDERASIE VAN RAPPORTRYERSKORPSE)
13. PROF. L.J.S. STEENKAMP (NEDERDUITS HERVORMDE KERK)
14. PROF. J. STEYN (TRANSVAALSE ONDERWYSERSVERENIGING)
15. DR. H. STONE (ONDERWYSKOMITEE, FEDRASIE VAN AFRIKAANSE KULTUURVERENIGINGE)
16. Me. M. STORM (DAMES AKTUEEL)
17. Me. E. STRYDOM (JONG DAMES DINAMIEK)
18. MNR. C UYS (JUNIER RAPPORTRYEBEWEGING)
19. DR. H.T. VAN DEVENTER (SUID-AFRIKAANSE FEDERASIE VAN STAATSONDERSTEUNDE SKOLE)
20. PROF. P. VAN DER MERWE (SUID-AFRIKAANSE STIGTING VIR ONDERWYS EN OPLEIDING)
21. PROF. J.L. VAN DER WALT (CO-DEPUTATE, GEREFORMEERDE KERK IN SUID-AFRIKA)