PanSALB release statement over ‘disparaging’ comments by Theron

Warning:

This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.

The Benoni-born superstar, Charlize Theron, has incurred the ire of the Pan South African Language Board after labeling Afrikaans a ‘dying’  language.

During her appearance on the SmartLess podcast, the 47-year-old actress and producer addressed the topic of her mother tongue saying jokingly that ‘about 44 people still speak Afrikaans’, before calling it an ‘unhelpful language' . She then added insult to injury by saying the language is “dying out”.

PanSALB has today, November 18, released an official statement in response to her comments.

It reads as follows :

PanSALB   DISHEARTENED AT DISPARAGING COMMENTS ABOUT AFRIKAANS

 The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) has noted with concern the disparaging comments made by South African born actress, Ms Charlize Theron, wherein she disregards the Afrikaans language as ‘dying out’ and ‘not very useful’ and only spoken by 44 people. The comments are not only disheartening but are disturbing as they are inaccurate and misleading. According to Stats SA’s Community Survey of 2018, Afrikaans is the 3^rd most spoken language in the country making up 12,2% of the population.

These comments made by Ms Theron perpetuate the persistent misconception that Afrikaans is only spoken by white ‘boere’ South Africans, which could not be farther from the truth as 60% of the people that speak the language are black. Furthermore, Afrikaans maintains its official status in terms of the Constitution and is utilized in several cross-governmental communications and used as a medium of instruction in South African schools. By her own admission, Ms Theron was taught through our schooling system in her mother tongue, which built the foundation of her rather illustrious career.

Ms Theron is held in such high regard by the country of her birth and as the Pan South African Language Board we implore her to pay due regard to the Constitutional imperatives that promote social cohesion and continue the commendable work of using her platform to highlight some of the critical socio-economic issues that affect the continent including the importance of participating in public life using one’s mother tongue.

Charlize has yet to respond to the backlash over her comments.