Actress Charlize Theron, who was born in Benoni, has come under criticism for her harsh remarks about Afrikaans, and it appears the uproar won’t be going away anytime soon.
The Hollywood actress described Afrikaans as “a disappearing language” in an interview with the Smartless podcast.
She may have been joking when she remarked, “There’s maybe 44 people still speaking it.”
Everyone back home, from political parties to well-known local people, appears to have an opinion on Theron’s statements.
Nee guy Charlize, related! Fans criticize the actor for referring to Afrikaans as a “dying language.”
Floyd Shivambu of the EFF described her remarks as “sensible” and “interesting.”
Theron was encouraged by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to go to Parliament so she could work with the group to defend her native language against the ANC.
DA MP Veronica van Dyk said, “I can certify that there are already more than 44 Afrikaans speakers in the DA caucus” (Shadow Minister for Sport, Art and Culture).
Theron’s remarks, according to a statement from the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), “are not only discouraging but also frightening since they are false and deceptive.”
According to Stats SA’s Community Survey from 2018, which the agency references, Afrikaans is the third most widely spoken language in the nation, with 12.2% of the population speaking it.
The idea that Afrikaans is solely spoken by white South Africans known as “boere” is perpetuated by Ms. Theron’s remarks, which could not be farther from the truth given that 60% of those who speak it are black.
South African Language Board for All
He now belongs to an exclusive group of people since he is one of the “44” people who speak Afrikaans, as noted novelist and journalist Max du Preez.
Controversial Steve Hofmeyr, an Afrikaans artist, also declares membership and uses the hashtag #1uit44.
