Constitution vs Reality

South Africa’s official languages are Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu and our constitution commits to taking practical and positive measures to elevate the status and use of minority languages while recognizing the historically diminished use and status of them. Our constitution also commits to creating conditions for development and use of not only all official languages and languages commonly used by communities and for religious purposes in South Africa but also to the respect and promotion of Sign language. Is our government really keeping their promises though? With only one television programme aimed at a deaf audience, their commitment seems anything but reliant. On paper, therefore, the constitution serves the rights and protection of minority languages but with little action and planning, this does not say much.

Not only do we have the right to be taught in the language of our choice (where reasonably practicable) but everyone also has the right to a basic and further education as well. The state, through reasonable measures, must make available and accessible the resources needed for individuals to further their studies. This, however, is not being done for the most part. Many children are caught in the cycle of poverty and therefore cannot afford school or college fees. Poverty is not the only factor influencing the lack of schooling though. Other factors include disability, availability, accessibility and also motivation or rather lack thereof. Why can our government not make financial provision for schooling where needed? After all, our taxes should be able to cover at least some of the expenses basic schooling entails or is it all going to the payment of certain hotel expenses by some of our ministers, namely Nathi Mtetwa, or BMW expenses by some of our political figures, namely Trevor Manuel?