After a meeting on Thursday, the police in the Northern Cape together with interested parties believe the controversial language policy, whereby all statements in this province of the public are to be written in English should be withdrawn.
This is according to an internal letter by the police in the Northern Cape, Solidarity, the Pan-South African Language Board (Pansat) and board members of the police in the province met in Kimberley on Thursday.
At the meeting, it was agreed that the language policy is withdrawn.
“An agreement has been reached, and the language directive in the province is withdrawn,” according to an extract from the letter.
The meeting followed after Solidarity earlier this month announced that they would fight this policy in the High Court.
This follows an assignment on 5 September 2016 by the provincial government, according to which all statements by the public must be written in English.
Police officers must also translate all statements made in Afrikaans into English.
Police members who do not comply with the instructions can be charged and disciplined.
Anton van der Bijl, head of Solidarity’s Center for Equal Labor Practices, confirmed the meeting but did not want to comment before the negotiations were completed and put in writing.
“No formal settlement and agreement have been signed.”
He said he will only comment on Monday or Tuesday when everything is completed.
Dr. Conrad Steenkamp, CEO of the Afrikaans Language Board (ATR), said he did not attend the meeting but welcomed the decision and regarded it as a step in the right direction.
“I am pleased to hear the voices of civil rights organizations.”
He also credited the police for their flexibility.
Read the original article in Afrikaans on Nuus.info
South Africa Today – South Africa News
