Ukufunda Nokufundiswa Kwezilimi Zomdabu

Zase - Afrika Ezikhungweni Zemfundo

Ephakeme ENingizimu Afrika: Izingqinamba
Namathuba Okusetshenziswa Kwezilimi
Emikhakheni Eyahlukene

Nobuhle Ndimande-Hlongwa

Isifingqo
Ukufunda nokufundisa okubandakanya nokushicililelwa kocwaningo
ezilimini zomdabu zase-Afrika kuyadinga ukuthi kubuyekezwe ezikhungweni
zemfundo ephakeme. Lokhu kubalulekile uma sibheka izinguquko ezenzeka
ezweni laseNingizimu Afrika. Kunezikhathi ezahlukene esingabuka ngazo
ukufunda nokufundiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika. Leli phepha-ke
lizoqala ngokubheka iziphakamiso zemiqulu eyahlukene ekhuluma
ngokuthuthukiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika nokuqinisekisa ukuthi
izinga lazo, okubandakanya nokusebenza kwazo, kuyashintsha yini
ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme. Okwesibili, iphepha lizobheka iqhaza
elibanjwe iminyango yezilimi njengabanikazi balokho okufundiswayo
nokucwaningwayo ngezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika kulo mkhankaso
wokusetshenziswa kwezilimi emikhakheni eyahlukene. Ngeke sikwazi ukuthi
sikhululeke eNingizimu Afrika futhi sihlinzeke ngemfundo esezingeni
eliphezulu sibe sisasebenzisa kuphela izilimi abafundi abaningi
abangaziqondi ngokwanele. Ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme lapha
eNingizimu Afrika izilimi ezabe zinikwe amathuba ngesikhathi sobandlululo
zisaqhubeka nokuthola lawo mathuba nanxa ucwaningo lukuveza ukuthi
abafundi bayaqhubeka nokungaphumeleli kahle ezifundweni zabo zeziqu
zokuqala nokuyinto enciphisa amathuba okuthi baqede iziqu zabo ngesikhathi
ukuze bethweswe imiyezane yabo.

Alternation Special Edition No 13 (2014) 80 - 101 80

ISSN 1023-1757
 Ukufunda Nokufundiswa Kwezilimi Zomdabu Zase - Afrika

Amagama asemqoka: Izilimi zombabu, ukufunda, ukufundisa, izikhungo

zemfundo ephakeme, ukuthuthukiswa kwezilimi, izinguquko, iminyango
yezilimi.

Nobuhle Ndimande-Hlongwa Teaching and Learning of

African Languages in South African Higher Education:
Challenges and Opportunities for Intellectualization

Abstract
The teaching and learning of African languages, including research
publications, need to be revisited in Higher education institutions. This is
vital in light of the transformation agenda of the country. There is a period in
which we could look at the teaching and learning of African languages. This
paper will look briefly at recommendations of important policy documents,
declarations and reports that address the development of African languages,
and also ensure that their status including the use of these languages is
changing in institutions of higher learning. Secondly, the paper will
investigate the role of African Language Departments, as custodians of
scholarship in African languages in the intellectualization agenda. We
cannot have democracy in South Africa and provide quality education
through the medium of languages many students do not fully understand. In
Institutions of Higher Education in South Africa languages that were
privileged under apartheid regime continue to enjoy those rights even though
research has proven that we have low throughput in undergraduate degrees
as students struggle with these languages which are not their mother-tongue,
thus disenabling them to complete their degrees within the minimum time.

Isingeniso
Ukufunda nokufundisa okubandakanya nokushicililelwa kocwaningo
ezilimini zomdabu zase-Afrika kuyadinga ukuthi kubuyekezwe ezikhungweni
zemfundo ephakeme. Lokhu kubalulekile uma sibheka izinguquko ezenzeka
ezweni laseNingizimu Afrika. Kunezimo noma izikhathi ezahlukene
esingabuka ngazo ukufunda nokufundiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika.
Kunesikhathi samaMishinari; esobandlululo; isikhathi lapho kwaba
noshintsho kufundiswa uhlelo locwaningozilimi. Esinye yilapho izilimi

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Nobuhle Ndimande-Hlongwa

zomdabu zase-Afrika zazifundiswa njengolimi lwesibili kulabo ababengazazi

lezi zilimi. Esikhathini esikuso manje emva kobandlululo, sibona izilimi
zomdabu zase-Afrika zifundiswa kubanikazi bazo abazikhulumayo. Izinhloso
zaleli phepha zimi kanje: i) Umcwaningi uzobheka kabanzi iziphakamiso
zemiqulu eyahlukene kahulumeni mayelana nokuthuthukiswa kwezilimi
zomdabu zase-Afrika ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme; ii) Umcwaningi
uzophinde abheke iqhaza elibanjwe iminyango yezilimi ezikhungweni
zemfundo ephakeme njengabanikazi balokho okufundiswayo
nokucwaningwayo ngezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika kulo mkhankaso
wokusetshenziswa kwezilimi emikhakheni eyahlukene; iii) Umcwaningi
uzophinde ahlole ukuthi zingakanani izinguquko ezikhona ekufundisweni
kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme.
Umcwaningi uzoqala ukuxoxa ngendlela esetshenzisiwe ukuqoqa
ulwazi lwaleli phepha, lokhu kuzolandelwa ingxoxo ngezinsizakuhlaziya
ezizolawula iphepha. Kuzoxoxwa ngamafuphi ngemiqulu ethuthukisa
ukusetshenziswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika kwezemfundo ephakame.
Umcwaningi uzobe esebuka ngeso elibanzi ukufundiswa kwezilimi zomdabu
zase-Afrika ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme. Kuzobhekwa izingqinamba
namathuba okuthuthukisa lezi zilimi bese liyasongwa iphepha
ngeziphakamiso zokusetshenziswa kobuchwepheshe bamakhompuyutha
ekuthuthukiseni ukufunda nokufundiswa kwezilimi zomdabu ezikhungweni
zemfundo ephakeme.

Indlela yokuqoqa ulwazi

Ngesikhathi kuqoqwa ulwazi oluqondene naleli phepha umcwaningi uqoke
ukusebenzisa indlela yekhwalithethivu. UWebb noSherman1 (1988:84) bathi
indlela yekhwalithethivu isebenzisa ulwazi lwekhwalithethivu
olunjengokuxoxisana nabantu, imiqulu, imibhalo kanye nokubhekisisa ukuze
kuqondwe lokho okucwaningwayo. USarantakos (1998:34) uthi izindlela

1
UHerman noWebb (1988:84) baphawula bathi, Ucwaningo
lwekhwalithethiwe lubandakanya ukusetshenziswa kwemininingwane
eqoqiwe yekhwalithethivu, enjengenhlolomibono, imibuzo, imiqulu, imibhalo
nemininingwane yokuqashelwe ngababambiqhaza ukuze kuqondwe futhi
kuchazwe izimo ezihlobene nezenhlalo’.

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 Ukufunda Nokufundiswa Kwezilimi Zomdabu Zase - Afrika

zokuqoqa ulwazi zingamathuluzi okuhlanganisa ulwazi; zingamathuluzi futhi

okuhlaziya lolo lwazi oluqoqiwe. Lezi zindlela zokuqoqa ulwazi kungaba
ukuxoxisana nabanolwazi ngesihloko leso umcwaningi asicwaningayo;
kungaba ukubukela kanye nokunye nje umcwaningi abona kuzomsiza
ekutholeni ulwazi lolo aludingayo. Kufundwe imibhalo eminingi eshicilelwe
egxile ekusetshenzisweni kolimi ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme.
Kusetshenziswe indlela yokubuyekeza imibhalo uBailey (1994) ayichaza
ngokuhlaziya imiqulu enalololo lwazi olusuke ludingwa umcwaningi
ngesikhathi enza ucwaningo lwakhe. UMogalakwe (2006) uthi le ndlela
ayijwayelekile ezifundweni zezoluntu nenhlalo yomphakathi, uthi inikeza
amasu awusizo okuhlunga, uhlole, uhumushe bese uhlonza lezo zinto
ezingekho, akulutho ukuthi azikho kuphi (Payne & Payne 2004). Kuleli
phepha miningi imiqulu umcwaningi ayifundile elawula ukuthuthukiswa
nokufundwa kwezilimi zomdabu e-Afrika nakhona eNingizimu Afrika.
Kuzoxoxwa ngayo le miqulu ngasekuqaleni kwaleli phepha. Le miqulu
yiyona ebe yisisekelo sokuhlaziya lokho okwenziwa iminyango yezilimi
zomdabu zase-Afrika ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme.

Izinsizakuhlaziya
Izinsizakuhlaziya ezizosetshenziswa lapha kuleli phepha yilezi ezilandelayo:
eyokuqala eyokwengamela ulimi/Language Management, eyesibili
eyokuqwebuka kwe-Afrika/African Renaissance. Insizakuhlaziya ye-
Language Management yahlongozwa uJernudd noNeustupny ngonyaka we-
1986. U-Nekvapil (2006) uthi umqondo wegama lensizakuhlaziya lethulwa
uJernudd noNeustupny ngesikhathi bebamba iqhaza engqungqutheleni eyabe
iseQuebec, eCanada. Le nsizakuhlaziya ihlukaniseke izigaba ezintathu.
Isigaba sokuqala esokubalulwa kwenkinga kanti esesibili esokuthathwa
kwezinyathelo yizikhungo ezihlelayo. Isigaba sesithathu esokuqinisekisa
ukuthi izinqumo ezithathiwe ziyalandelwa. Le nsizakuhlaziya ibuka
ukuhlelwa kolimi okwenzeka emazingeni aphakeme (macro language
planning) okunikezwa imvume nguhulumeni, kanye nokuhlelwa kolimi
emazingeni aphansi (micro language planning) okwenziwa ngabantu
ngabodwana kanye nezinhlangano ezingekho ngaphansi kukahulumeni.
UNekvapil noNekula (2006:307) bathi ukuhlelwa kolimi okwenzeka
emazingeni ezwe noma ukuhlelwa kolimi okwenziwa ezikhungweni

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Nobuhle Ndimande-Hlongwa

zikahulumeni kungathathwa njengokuhlelwa kolimi emazingeni aphezulu.

Kepha kunobufakazi bokuthi ulimi luphinde luhlelwe izinhlaka zomphakathi
ezizimele, lokho okudala ukuthi itemu elithi ukuhlelwa kolimi emazingeni
aphansi lisebenze. Le nsizakuhlaziya iphakamisa ukuthi ukuhlobana phakathi
kokuhlelwa kolimi emazingeni aphansi kanye naphakeme kuyefana njengoba
zozimbili lezi zingxenye zisebenzisana. UNeustupny (1994:50) uthi:

Noma yimuphi umthetho wokuhlelwa kolimi kumele uqale

ngokubheka izinkinga zolimi njengoba zibonakala
ekusetshenzisweni kwalo, futhi izinhlelo zokuhlela ngeke zithathwe
njengeseziphelile kuze kube ukususwa kwenkinga sekwenziwe
(kuhunyushelwe esiZulwini).

Uma kuhlelwa ulimi kumele kuqale kuhlonzwe inkinga yolimi ekhona

emphakathini lowo okubhekiswe kuwo ukuhlelwa kolimi, bese kuqaliswa
izinhlelo zokuhlela ulimi futhi ngeke lezo zinhlelo kuthiwe seziphothuliwe
ibe ingakaxazululeki leyo nkinga ebikade ihlonziwe. Lapha eNingizimu
Afrika inkinga enkulu nendala ebhekene neminyango efundisa izilimi
zomdabu zase-Afrika ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme yileyo yokufundisa
lezi zilimi kusetshenziswa ulimi lwesiNgisi. Ukulunjwa kwezwekazi i-Afrika
kanye nolwazi lwesintu okubandakanya nazo izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika
uqobo kubukelwe phansi isikhathi eside. Inhloso kwabe kungukukhipha
inyumbazane igalelo labantu base-Afrika emlandweni kanye nasekukhiqizeni
ulwazi; izilimi namasiko abantu base-Afrika kwakuthathwa njengento
engubuqaba (Rwantabagu 2011). Ukuqala kwenkolo, imfundo
yaseNtshonalanga nobungcweti ezilimini zaseYurophu ezifana nesiNgisi
kwakuthathwa njengempucuko; uma ukulelo zinga wawuthathwa ngokuthi
usukhanyiselekile, ufundile. Imfundo yesikhathi sabelungu yayihlose
ukukhiqiza abafundi ababezoqeqeshelwa ukusebenzela iziphathimandla
zabelungu (Wa Thiong’o 2005; Ndlentyana 2010). Yingakho-ke nanamuhla
isaqhubeka ingcabha nenkiyankiya yokusetshenziswa kwezilimi,
ikakhulukazi isiNgisi ekufundiseni izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika
ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme. Isikhathi lesi manje sokuthi sikulungise
lokho. Kuzokhulunywa kabanzi ngemiqulu ebheka izwekazi i-Afrika nayo
iNingizimu Afrika nenika iziphakamiso zokuthi silungiswa kanjani lesi simo
sezilimi ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme.

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 Ukufunda Nokufundiswa Kwezilimi Zomdabu Zase - Afrika

Insizakuhlaziya yesibili yileyo yokuqwebuka kwe-Afrika noma

ukuzalwa kabusha kwe-Afrika/African Renaissance. UMandela (1997) wathi
igama ‘renaissance’ lichaza ukuzalwa kabusha, ukuvuselela. Lapha-ke
kubhekwa ukuzalwa kabusha kwezwekazi i-Afrika. UMakgoba (1999: xii)
uma echaza yena ngokwakhe uthi ukuqwebuka kwe-Afrika kuyithuba
elivelele lama-Afrika lokuthi azichaze ukuthi angobani ngokubhekela isimo
sempilo namaqiniso awo njengoba enjalo. Uthi leli yithuba lokuba ama-
Afrika abe ngabaphathi bomlando wawo futhi abe ngabaphathi bekusasa
lezwe lawo. Kunezinqumo ezathathwa ngonyaka wezi-2000 ngesikhathi
kwakhiwa Inhlangano Yezizwe eziqondene namalungelo abantu.
Ukuqwebuka kwe-Afrika ngeke sikwazi ukufinyelela kukho uma sishiya
emuva izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika ngoba zinothile (Msila 2014). Izilimi
zomdabu ziyinsizakusebenza eyigugu nengakwazi ukusiza izwekazi lase-
Afrika ukuthi lihlangabezane nezidingo eziqondene nokuvuselelwa kabusha
kwe-Afrika. Labo abanexhala ngokuvuselelwa kabusha kwe-Afrika kumele
babe nexhala lokuthi emazweni amaningi ase-Afrika ulwazi oluphuma
kuhulumeni luya kubantu ludluliselwa ngezilimi amaphesenti angama-90
angaluqondi futhi angalukhulumi (Brock-Utne 2001: 118). Esikhathini
esiphambili bekuthi uma kuqhamuka umlungu kumele kube khona uthisha
noma umfundisi ozofunwa ukuze akwazi ukutolikela umlungu (Ndlentyana
2010:15). Abantu abafundile bagcina sebeba ngosomlomo beziphathimandla
zabelungu. Lokhu kusetshenziswa ngale ndlela kolimi lwesiNgisi yikho
okwaluphakamisa, ngaso leso sikhathi kwaholela ekushabalaleni
kokusetshenziswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika. Ngale ndlela-ke uma
sifuna ukuthi umkhankaso wokuqwebuka kwe-Afrika uphumelele ngeke
sikwazi ukukwenza lokho uma sishiya izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika
ngaphandle. Izikhungo zemfundo ephakeme kumele zibhukule ekufundiseni
izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika, okuzoba yinzuzo enkulu kubafundi ngoba
kuzobafundisa Ubuntu, kanti okukhulu kakhulu ngukuthi ngeke sikwazi
ukuba nenkululeko ezwenikazi i-Afrika uma izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika
zingeyona ingxenye yenkululeko (Meredith 2006). Leli yithuba
eliyingqayizivele lokuthi iminyango efundisa izilimi zomdabu ezikhungweni
zemfundo ephakeme ilithathe ilisebenzise ukuzibuka ukuthi iyaphi ukusuka
manje. Ngeke sikwazi ukuqhubeka nokufundisa izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika
sibe sisebenzisa ezinye izilimi. Uma senza kanjalo sizobe siqhuba khona
lokho okwakuhloswe ngabelungu ngesikhathi beletha imfundo e-Afrika.
Kuhle nje manje ngoba sezikhona izincwadi eziqaliwe ukubhalwa ngezilimi

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Nobuhle Ndimande-Hlongwa

zesintu, ezisetshenziswa khona emanyuvesi; hhayi izincwadi ezigxile

ebucikweni bokubhala nobomlomo. Isibonelo salokhu ngumsebenzi
kaNdimande-Hlongwa (2009). Kanjalo futhi nawo amaphepha ashicilelwayo
ngazo izilimi zomdabu aseqalile ukwanda. Isibonelo salokhu ngumsebenzi
kaNkosi (2014). Lezi zincwadi namaphepha okukhulunywa ngako lapha
kuthola izimali eMnyagweni Wemfundo Ephakeme eya ezikhungweni
zemfundo ephakeme njengengxenye yokuthuthukisa ucwaningo. Ziningi
izincwadi ezisendleleni nazo ezenanelayo kulo mkhankaso ezikwezinye
izifundo. Isibonelo nje yisifundo esigxile kwezengqondo eNyuvesi
yaKwaZulu-Natali lapho kubhalwe khona incwadi ebulimimbili
ezoshicilelwa maduze. Yikhwelo-ke leli kuzona zonke izikhungo zemfundo
ephakeme ukuthi ziphaphame, zivuke emaqandeni. Sesingaze sitshelwe
ngezinye izizwe ukuthi asifundise izilimi zethu zesintu ngaso isintu? Ihlazo
phela leli, sikhombisa ukuba iminqolo ogombetsheni!

Imiqulu ekhuluma ngezilimi zomdabu kwezemfundo

ephakeme
Emazweni amaningi e-Afrika naphesheya kwezilwandle, imizamo
yokuthuthukisa nokushintsha izinga lokusetshenziswa kwezilimi zomdabu
zase-Afrika ibonakale ngemizamo yeNhlangano Yezizwe Ezihlangene
(Umhlab’uhlangene) kanye neNhlangano Yezizwe zase-Afrika njengoba
baqhamuka namasu emqulwini owabizwa ngokuthi I – Language Plan of
Action for Africa yangonyaka we-1986; umqulu wokuthuthukiswa kwezilimi
zesintu (Charter for the promotion of African languages in education 1996);
i-Harare Declaration 1997; i-Asmara Declaration 2000; kukhona nezinye
izinkulumo eziqavile eziningi ezikhuluma ngamalungelo ezilimi zabantu
bomdabu (indigenous people), 2007 esingeke sangena kuzona kakhulu lapha
kuleli phepha. Kunezikhungo ezakhiwa ezifana nalesi esibheke
ucwaningozilimi kanye nomlando wokufunda ngobuciko bomlomo esaziwa
ngokuthi I – Centre of Linguistic and Historical Studies through Oral
Tradition (CELHTO) esiseNiger; kukhona nesinye isikhungo esigxile
emasikweni nasezilimini zomdabu zase-Afrika esaziwa nge – Regional
Centre of Documentation on Oral Traditions and African Languages
(CERDOTOLA) esiseCameroon; bese kuzoba khona isikhungo sase-Afrika
sezilimi I – African Academy of African Languages (ACALAN). Inhlangano

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 Ukufunda Nokufundiswa Kwezilimi Zomdabu Zase - Afrika

i-ACALAN inezinhlosongqangi ezinqala zokuthuthukisa izilimi zomdabu

zase-Afrika ngokuqinisa ubudlelwane phakathi kwamazwe ase-Afrika,
ukuthuthukisa izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika ezikhungweni zonke zemfundo
nasezingeni lomhlaba (Ndimande-Hlongwa 2009:168).
ENingizimu Afrika ukuthuthukiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika
kususelwa kumthethosisekelo wezwe (1996) onikeza izilimi eziyishumi
nanye ilungelo lokuba semthethweni. Uhlaka lwenqubomgomo yolimi
kuzwelonke (2002) lungeminye yemiqulu ebalulekile ukuthi lulandelwe
izinhlaka zikahulumeni. Keneminye imiqulu ebalulekile efana
nenqubomgomo yolimi kwezemfundo ephakeme (2002). Le nqubomgomo
yolimi ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme (2002:7) ithi:

Ungqongqoshe wezemfundo kumele anqume inqubomgomo yolimi

yezikhungo eziphakeme. Bese kuthi umkhandlu wesikhungo
ngasinye semfundo ephakeme unqume inqubomgomo yolimi
yesikhungo bese iyashicilelwa. Nayo inqubomgomo yolimi
yezemfundo ephakeme iyakugqugquzela ukusetshenziswa
nokuthuthukiswa kwezilimi zesintu ukuze nazo zigcine sezifike
ezingeni elilinganayo nelesiNgisi nesiBhunu kwezemfundo.

Le nqubomgomo ithi amanyuvesi wonke kumele enze imizamo yokuthi

abafundi abangakhulumi ulimi lokufunda nokufundisa baqeqeshwe
emakhonweni okuqonda okufundiswayo. Into eyinkinga kakhulu
ezikhungweni eziningi zemfundo ephakeme wukuthi akekho olandelela
ngobuchule ukuthi ziyalandelwa yini iziphakamiso zenqubomgomo yolimi
kwezemfundo ephakeme. Wonke amanyuvesi alindeleke ukuthi athumele
imibiko njalo emva kweminyaka emihlanu echaza kabanzi ngecebo laleso
naleso sikhungo ekwenzeni inqubomgomo yolimi isebenze. Yize noma
izikhungo eziningi sezinayo inqubomgomo yolimi kodwa azilandelelwa
ngendlela ukuze kubhekwe ukuthi zenza ngakho yini. Siyethemba ukuthi
kuyoba esinye seziphakamiso lesi ithimba eleluleka ungqongqoshe ngezilimi
zomdabu kwezemfundo ephakeme eliqhamuka naso. Lokhu sikusho ngenxa
yokuthi kwenye yezinsizakuhlaziya esebenze kuleli phepha eqondene
nokwenganyelwa kolimi, sithe kumele siqale ngokuthola izinkinga zolimi
ezibonakala ekusetshenzisweni kwalo. Ngeke size sikujabulele ukuthi
ukuhlelwa kuhamba kahle ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme uma izinkinga
zingakasombululeki.

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Nobuhle Ndimande-Hlongwa

Omunye umqulu obaluleke kakhulu yilowo wethimba elaliholwa

nguSolwazi uNjabulo Ndebele, elaliqokwe ngonyaka wezi-2003 lacelwa
ukuba lizokweluleka ngokuthuthukiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika
njengezilimi zokunika ulwazi ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme. Leli
thimba laqokwa ukuze kufezekiswe izinhloso zenqubomgomo yolimi
kwezemfundo ephakeme yangonyaka wezi-2002. Umbiko waleli thimba
wasebenza njengesisekelo somhlahlandlela wenqubomgomo
owawuhlongozwe uNgqongqoshe Wezemfundo uSolwazi Kader Asmal,
ngokuthuthukiswa kwezilimi ezisemthethweni zaseNingizimu Afrika.
Lo mbiko womnyango wezemfundo (2003: 20) waphakamisa ukuthi izilimi
zomdabu zaseNingizimu Afrika ezisemthethweni, kumele zibuyise isithunzi
sazo njengezilimi ezisemthethweni. Isikhungo sezemfundo ephakeme
ngasinye kumele senze umhlahlandlela wokwenza inqubomgomo isebenze,
ikhombise izinhloso zesikhathi (esifushane, esiphakathi nendawo kanye
nezesikhathi eside). Ukukwazi ukuxhumana okungenani ngolimi olulodwa
lomdabu kumele kube yisidingo esisemthethweni kumuntu ukuze athole
umsebenzi kanye nokukhushulelwa noma ukuqokelwa esikhundleni kunoma
yimuphi umsebenzi kahulumeni kanye nakunoma yisiphi isikhungo
sikahulumeni. Esinye isiphakamiso kwaba wukuthi izikhungo zemfundo
ephakeme, izikhungo zikahulumeni kanye nezizimele kumele zihlanganyele
ngokwezifunda ukuhlonza izifundo okufanele zihunyushelwe ezilimini
zomdabu zase-Afrika. Lo mbiko wabe usuphakamisa ukuthi izilimi zomdabu
zingathuthukiswa kanjani ngokwezikhungo eziphakeme nokuthi isikhungo
kumele sithuthukise luphi ulimi ngokubheka isifundazwe kanye nolimi
olukhulunywa kakhulu lapho kwakhiwe khona leso sikhungo.
Umqulu wezoluntu nesayensi yezifundo zomphakathi (Charter for
Humanities and Social Sciences 2011) ngomunye wemizamo eyaqhamuka
nomhlonishwa uDokotela uBlaze Nzimande, nongungqongqoshe
wezemfundo ephakeme eNingizimu Afrika. Leli thimba labe liholwa
nguSolwazi u-Ari Sitas ebambisene noDokotela uSarah Mosoena. INyuvesi
yaKwaZulu-Natali yabe imelwe nguSolwazi uNhlanhla Mkhize kuleli
thimba. Lo mbiko ukubeka ngokusobala ukubaluleka kwezilimi zomdabu
zase-Afrika ekufundeni nasekufundiseni ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme.
Lo mbiko uveza igebe elikhona phakathi kwezifundo zoluntu kanye
nesayensi yomphakathi ekuqhamukeni namasu okumele asize imiphakathi
yaseNingizimu Afrika. Izikhungo zemfundo ephakeme zishiya imiphakathi
ngaphandle ekukhiqizeni ulwazi; imbangela enkulu yalokhu ulimi

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olusetshenziswa izikhungo zemfundo ephakeme, olukhipha imiphakathi

inyumbazane. Uyakufakazela lokhu uMsila (2014) lapho ethi uma izikhungo
zemfundo ephakeme ziqhubeka nokuthi zizitshele ukuthi zazi konke,
ziyizinhlalamafini ngeke zikwazi ukufinyelela esifisweni sazo sokuba
izikhungo zemfundo ephakeme zase-Afrika. Esinye seziphakamiso
ezibalulekile zombiko waleli thimba (Charter for Humanities and Social
Sciences 2011:22) kwaba yiphrojekthi ebhekele ukwakhiwa kwamatemu
ezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika (Catalytic Project on Concept Formation in
African languages). Le phrojekthi iholwa nguSolwazi uRussel Kaschula
noDokotela uPam Maseko baseNyuvesi yaseRhodes (Maseko 2014:32).
Basebenzisana ngokubambisana nezikhungo eziyishumi eziqhamuka
ezifundazweni ezine ezizibandakanye ekuthuthikisweni kwezilimi zomdabu
zase-Afrika.
Omunye umqulu obaluleke kakhulu ngoba wawucwaninga ngesimo
sezifundo zezoluntu owakhishwa yi–Academy of Science of South Africa
(ASSAF) wenza isiphamiso esibalulekile eziphakamisweni zawo eziyishumi
zalo mqulu. Isiphakamiso sesine se-(ASSAF 2011:16) emqulwini othi
Consensus Study on the State of the Humanities in South Africa sithi kumele
uhulumeni abuyekeze isabelo sezimali asinikeza izifundo zeZoluntu, kube
nemali ezoqondaniswa ngqo nezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika, kubandakanya
izifundo zefilosofi, ezomlando kanye nobuciko bezandla. Siyethemba-ke
ukuthi ikomidi ebelibuyekeza ukwabiwa kwezimali zamanyuvesi ebeliholwa
uSekela Mengameli wezwe uCyril Ramaphosa lizithathile lezi ziphakamiso
ngoba zibalulekile futhi zingenza umehluko omkhulu kweZoluntu ziyeke
ubukelwa phansi yilabo bezifundo zobuchwepheshe ngoba bona
benonondlini behlale bekleza njalo.
Ithimba likaNgqongqoshe eleluleka ngezilimi zomdabu
ezikhungweni zemfundo ephekeme lakhethwa ngonyaka wezi-2012
wuMnyango wezeMfundo Ephakeme Nokuqeqeshwa. Leli thimba leluleka
ungqongqoshe ngesimo sokufundiswa, sokufunda, kanye nesocwaningo
lwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme (Maseko
2014:34). Ithimba lacelwa ukuba lihlonze izingqinamba ezidale ukuthi yonke
imiqulu lena ebalwe ngenhla ingalandelwa ekuthuthukiseni izilimi zomdabu
zase-Afrika bese liqhamuka neziphakamiso. UNgqongqoshe Wezemfundo
ephakeme uDokotela Blade Nzimande uyisukumele futhi uyikhuthalele
kakhulu indaba yezilimi zomdabu ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme futhi
uzimisele ukwenza umahluko.

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Kukhona noMthetho Wokusetshenziswa Kwezilimi Ezisemthethweni

(Use of Official Languages Act 2012) obhekelela ukusetshenziswa kwezilimi
ezisemthethweni eminyangweni kahulumeni. Inhloso enkulu yalo mthetho
ukuqinisekisa ukuthi zonke lezi zilimi ezisemthethweni eNingizimu Afrika
ziyasetshenziswa. Okubhalwe phansi emithethweni yezwe kuvamise
ukuphikisana nalokhu okwenziwa ngabantu empilweni yangempela.
UMthetho Wokusetshenziswa Kwezilimi Ezisemthethweni wezi-2012
esigabeni se-4.1 kanye nese--4.2 uthi:

Yonke iminyango kahulumeni kazwelonke, izikhungo zomphakathi

zikahulumeni kanye nabadayisela umphakathi kuzwelonke kumele
benze inqubomgomo yabo yolimi emayelana nokusebenzisa kwabo
izilimi ezisemthethweni ngokwezinhloso zikahulumeni ngesikhathi
esingaphansi kwezinyanga eziyishumi nesishiyagalombili emveni
kokusebenza kwalo mthetho noma isikhathi esingangaleso
esiyonqunywa ungqongqoshe, ukudlula kuleso sikhathi akumele
kweqe ezinyangeni eziyisithupha ... kumele ukhombise izilimi
okungenani ezintathu ezisemthethweni lowo mnyango okumele
uzisebenzise ngokwezinhloso zikahulumeni.

Lo mthetho ungomunye wemizamo kahulumeni yokuthuthukisa izilimi

zomdabu. uthi okungenani umnyango ngamunye kufanele usebenzise izilimi
ezintathu ezisemthethweni, njengezilimi zokuxhumana nabantu okungaba
ukuxhumana ngomlomo noma ukuxhumana ngokubhalwe phansi.
Siyethemba-ke ukuthi bakhona abazoqokwa ukuthi bawenze lo mthetho
usebenze, ngoba uma lokho kungenzeki kuzofana nokuthela amanzi emhlane
wedada ngoba kuzokwenzeka lokhu okwenzeka emithethweni ekhona
engalandelwa futhi engenabo abantu abayiqaphile.

Iqhaza elibanjwe iminyango yezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika

ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme
Umcwaningi uzoqala ngokujeqeza emuva kancane ukuze sikwazi ukuba
nesithombe esiphelele somlando wokubhalwa nowokufundiswa kwezilimi
zomdabu zase-Afrika ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme eNingizimu Afrika.
Emlandweni wokubhalwa kwezilimi zomdabu umcwaningi uzokwenza

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isibonelo ngolimi lwesiZulu. Ulimi lwesiZulu ngokubhala kukaMhlongo

noMabuya (1981:23) lwaqala ngezigodi eziseNingizimu koThukela. Ulimi
lwesiZulu lwagqama kakhulu ngonyaka we-1849 ngesikhathi uJ.C. Bryant
eshicilela isihlokwana esithi The Zulu Language esasihlelelwe umqulu
wephephabhuku elalibizwa ngokuthi I – Journal of the Oriental Society.
Emva kwalesi sishicilelo kwavela izihumusho eziningi zebhayibheli, kodwa
esanemba kwaba esikaColenso. Ngonyaka we-1849 isiZulu kwabe kuwulimi
lokuzixoxela nje nokufunda ibhayibheli kuphela. Ngeminyaka ye-1910-1954
ulimi lwesiZulu lwalufundiswa njengesifundo nje kuphela; kwelikaMthaniya
izifundo zazifundwa ngesiNgisi. Ngaleyo ndlela ulimi lwesiZulu
alukwazanga ukuthi luthuthuke, kunalokho lwabe selukhinyabezeka.
Yingakho-ke abaphathi beZwi okwakungamaMishinali kuthiwa baba
ngamavulandlela ekubhalweni kolimi lwesiZulu. Lokhu kwenzekile
nakwezinye izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika. Yize noma ulimi lwesiZulu
lwakhubazeka lungayitholi intuba yokuthuthuka liyabongeka iqhaza
elabanjwa izingqalabutho ezifana noDokotela JL Dube, uDokotela BW
Vilakazi, uRRR Dhlomo, uC. Masondo, uJF Cele, uRH Mthembu, u-AL
Zungu, uCLS Nyembezi nabanye abaningi. Kwabamhlophe abayidlanzana
singabala uMfundisi uGrant, uCM Doke, uMbhishobhi uColenso, uD
Malcolm, uStuart nabanye (Mhlongo noMabuya 1981:24).
Emlandweni wokufundiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika
kuzokhumbuleka ukuthi abacwaningizilimi bokuqala kwakungamaMishinali.
Injongo yabo enkulu kwabe kungukwakha ubhalomagama ngenhloso
yokukwazi ukuhumusha ibhayibheli, abantu balifunde ngezilimi zabo bese
bephenduka babe ngamaKristu (Kaschula 2008; Moleleki; 2010; Nosilela
2010). Ngesikhathi sobandlululo: izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika zazifundiswa
ngabelungu ababengazazi lezi zilimi bezifundisa njengezilimi ezifile.
Isikhathi samaMishinali salandelwa yileso sobandlululo lapho izilimi
lezi zomdabu zazifundiswa ngabelungu, abaningi babo babengazazi lezi
zilimi bengakwazi ngisho ukuzikhuluma. Ngaso leso sikhathi othisha
abansundu babeqashwa babe abalekeleli uma kufundiswa ngoba phela
babengenawo amalungelo, kwakusenzima impela, itshe limi ngothi.
UKaschula (2013:7) unikeza izibonelo zezingcithabuchopho ezifana
noSolwazi AC Jordan waseNyuvesi yaseKapa kanye noBen Mahlasela
waseNyuvesi yaseRhodes. Uyaqhukeka uthi abazange bakuthole ukuthi
banakwe futhi bakhuthazwe emisebenzini yabo yokufundisa ubuciko
bokubhala, ngaleyo ndlela babengakwazi ukuthi benyuselwe ezikhundleleni

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zokuba ngama-Lecturers, Senior Lecturers kanjalo baze babe ngoSolwazi

ngoba babecindelekile. Okwenzeka-ke ukuthi uJordan wagcina esewela
izilwandle waya eMelika lapho agcina esenguSolwazi wezifundo zase-Afrika
eNyuvesi yaseWisconsin, eMadison. USolwazi uBhekinkosi (DBZ) Ntuli
naye owaqala esebenza njengomsizi ngonyaka we-1967 e-UNISA
akadikibalanga yena ngoba waba ivulandlela waba ngowokuqala e-UNISA
ukuba uSolwazi wezilimi zomdabu ngonyaka we-1979. INyuvesi
yaKwaZulu-Natali yamhlonipha ngeziqu zobudokotela ngonyaka wezi-2009
ngenxa yeqhaza lakhe ekuthuthukisweni kolimi lwesiZulu eNingizimu
Afrika. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwaba khona ushintsho futhi
ekufundisweni kwezilimi zomdabu kwaqaliswa ukufundiswa kohlelo lolimi.
Ngalesi sikhathi abafundisi abansundu baqala nabo ukwenyuka ngezikhundla
kanye nabamhlophe ezikhungweni ezazaziwa ngokuthi ngezabamhlophe
nalezo ezazingezabomdabu baseNdiya. USolwazi uPeter Mtuze waba
ngowokuqala omnyama ukuthi aqashwe eNyuvesi yaseRhodes. ENyuvesi
eyayaziwa ngokuthi iDurban-Westville uSolwazi wokuqala omnyama kwaba
uPhylis Zungu. ENyuvesi yaseKapa uSolwazi wokuqala omnyama kwaba
nguSizwe Satyo. Abaningi abamhlophe ayesebenza nabo babengakwazi
ukukhuluma izilimi zomdabu. ENyuvesi yaKwaZulu, oNgoye uSolwazi
wokuqala emyangweni wezilimi zomdabu kwaba ngu-AC Nkabinde
owagcina eyinhloko ephethe iNyuvesi, uNgoye.
Kwabuye kwaba khona olunye ushintsho futhi ekufundisweni
kwezilimi zomdabu lapho kwabe sekugxilwe ekufundiseni lezi zilimi
kubafundi ezingulimi lwesibili kubona. Lapha isikhathi esiningi
bekufundiswa lezi zilimi ngenhloso yokuthi abafundi babe nolwazi
lokuxhumana emazingeni aphansi. Emanyuvesi wonke lapho sifundiswa
khona lesi sifundo kusetshenziswa isiNgisi kakhulu, yize noma
zisetshenziswa izilimi zomdabu kodwa kusakhonya sona isiNgisi. Lokhu
kufakazelwa nguNosilela (2010) enkulumweni ayethula kunezingxoxo
mayelana nezilimi zomdabu ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme, e-UNISA.
Lo mhlangano wabe ubizwe uMnyango Wezemfundo Ephakeme uholwa
nguNgqogqoshe uqobo lwakhe uDokotela Blade Nzimande. Lesi sinqumo
sokufundisa izilimi zomdabu njengolimi lwesibili kusetshenziswa isiNgisi
noma isiBhunu siyadinga ukuthi sibuyekezwe yiMinyango yezilimi zomdabu
ngoba zikhona izindlela ezingasetshenziswa lapho abafundi befundiswa
ngazo lezi zilimi zomdabu uqobo, singafakwa isiNgisi. Phesheya
kwezilwandle lapho kufundiswa khona abafundi ezweni laseMelika befunda

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isiZulu noma isiSwahili, iyasetshenziswa le ndlela. Laba bafundi, bafunda

lezi zilimi esikhathini esingangonyaka bese bethola umfundaze okhishwa
uMnyango wezemfundo eMelika ukuthi beze eNingizimu Afrika
naseTanzania bazohlala nemindeni ekhuluma lezi zilimi. Lolu hlobo
lokufunda luyabakhuthaza abafundi ukuthi bazisebenzise lezi zilimi.
Sesingaze sehlulwe amazwe afana noMelika lapho lezi zilimi zomdabu zase-
Afrika zifundwa njengezilimi zokuthekelwa (Foreign languages)? Isizathu
sokuthi kulokhu kuqhutshekiwe kuhanjiswa isiNgisi phambili kuwubufakazi
bokuthi sisacindezeleke kanjani ezingqondweni zethu kodwa sibe sithi
sifundile. Kuze kube yimanje asikakwenzi okwakhulunywa uWa Thing’o
(1986) eminyakeni eminingi edlule lapho ayesiqwashisa khona ngokuthi
kumele sikhuculele insila yokuthunjwa sikhulule izingqondo zethu, sazise
izilimi zethu zomdabu. ENyuvesi yaseNingizimu Afrika indlela
ababeyisebenzisa yokuhlanganisa abafundi bezilimi ezahlukene ndawonye
yenza bathatha isinqumo sokusebenzisa isiNgisi njengolimi lokufunda
nokufundisa. Izilimi abazifundisayo zomdabu zase-Afrika
ziyisishiyagalombili, zizoba yisishiyagalonye kulo nyaka we-2014 uma
bekwazile ukuqalisa isiNdebele (Kosch noBosch 2014:55). Baningi-ke
abafundisi abamhlophe abashiya ngalesi sikhathi salezi zinguquko ngoba
babengenawo amakhono okufundisa lezi zilimi njengezilimi zesibili. Lolu
shintsho lwenzeka kakhulu eNyuvesi yaseNingizimu Afrika ngoba yona yabe
inabafundisi abaningi kakhulu.
Kwaba nolunye ushintsho futhi ekufundisweni kwezilimi zomdabu
zase-Afrika ngesikhathi iNingizimu Afrika ithola inkululeko ngonyaka we-
1994. Ngalesi sikhathi iminyango efundisa lezi zilimi yemukela kakhulu
abafundi okuyizilimi zabo zebele lezi. Inkinga enkulu eyaba khona ukuthi
yize noma kwase kuyilolu hlobo lwabafundi olukhona kodwa okufundiswayo
akushintshanga. Izikhungo eziningi zisalokhu zibambelele ekufundiseni
izifundo zocwaningozilimi (okubandakanya uhlelomagama,
ingcwengazinhlamvu, uhlelomisho, njll) ezingabasizi kangako abafundi.
Lokhu kungesinye sezizathu zokwehla kwenani labafundi abathatha lezi
zilimi ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme. Embikweni wethimba likaNdebele
(2003:19) kuyavela ukuthi inani labafundi abamukelwa babhalisa
ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme ukufunda izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika
lehla kakhulu ngamaphesenti angama-50 ukusukela ngonyaka we-1999.
Eminye iminyango yaphoqeleka ukuthi ivale noma yehlise inani labafundisi.
ENyuvesi yaseRhodes uKaschula (2013:8) uthi isikhungo sazivala izifundo

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zesiXhosa zabafundi bolimi lwebele ngesikhathi kunezinguquko ekupheleni

konyaka we-1990, kwasala abafundisi ababili kuphela. Sekunoshintsho
olukhulu-ke manje eNyuvesi yaseRhodes njengoba ekuveza uMaseko
(2014:39) ukuthi kwadingeka baqhamuke namasu amasha ayezothuthukisa
ulimi lwesiXhosa lungagcini nje lufundiswa emnyangweni kuphela kodwa
lukhule lusetshenziswe njengolimi lokufunda nokufundisa, ezinye izifundo
enyuvesi yonkana bebambisene neminye iminyango.
ENyuvesi yaKwaZulu-Natali uMnyango wezilimi zomdabu zase-
Afrika usuhambe ibanga elide impela ekuthuthukiseni ulimi lwesiZulu
njengoba inqubomgomo yolimi yenyuvesi eyamukelwa ngokusemthethweni
ngonyaka wezi-2006 yenza isiZulu ulimi olusemthethweni oluhambisana
nesiNgisi. UNdimande-Hlongwa (2009:145-156) ubhale kabanzi ngalokhu.
Yize noma ezifundweni ezifundiswayo ulimi lwesiNgisi lusalokhu
luqhamukile lusebenza naso isiZulu ikakhulukazi ezifundweni ze-Honours
neze-MA, lukhulu kakhulu ushintsho olubonakalayo. Lolu shintsho
lubonakala ezinhlelweni zezifundo ezifundwayo. ENyuvesi yaKwaZulu-
Natali ngale kokubheka ucwaningozilimi kodwa kunezifundo ezifundiswa
kubafundi besiZulu ulimi lwebele ezibandakanya: isifundo sokuhlelwa
kolimi, esokuhumusha, esokwakhiwa kwamatemu, esokwakhiwa
kwezichazimagama, esifundisa ngamagugu namasiko, esifundisa ngolimi
lwezenhlalo-mphakathi, esifundiswa ngokwethiwa kwamagama ezinto
ezinhlobonhlobo. Zonke lezi zifundo zifundiswa ngesiZulu uqobo. Kukhona
futhi isiZulu esifundiswa kubafundi njengolimi lwesibili. Lesi sifundo
besithathwa kakhulu abafundi abaqeqeshelwa imisebenzi yamakhono efana
nobudokotela noma ubuhlengikazi, njll. Inyuvesi yathatha isinqumo esikhulu
ngonyaka wezi-2013, lapho ikhipha umgomo wokuthi akekho umfundi
kulaba abaqale ngonyaka wezi-2014 oyophothula iziqu zakhe engasenzanga
isifundo sesiZulu sokuxhumana, waphumelela kuso. Uma nje umfundi
engesiye umNguni noma engasifundanga kumatikuletsheni isiZulu kumele
asenze futhi aphumelele kusona ngaphambi kokwethweswa iziqu. Lesi
sinqumo sidingidwe kakhulu ngabezindaba kubandakanya
abamaphephandaba kanye neziteshi zemisakazo. Baningi-ke kakhulu
abafundi asebeqalile ukwenza lesi fundo nokuyinto eyenyuse inani labafundi
emnyangweni wezilimi zomdabu kule nyuvesi. Ngaphezu kwalokhu
umnyango ugqugquzela abafundi abenza ucwaningo lweziqu ze-MA kanye
nezobuDokotela ukuthi benze ucwaningo lwabo ngolimi lwesiZulu. Baningi-
ke impela abafundi asebegogodile bethweswa iziqu ze-MA

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nezezobuDokotela bebhala ngaso isiZulu. Akugcini nje lapho kuphela,

abafundi sebevunyelwe futhi ukuthi bethule izinhlelo zabo zokwenza
ucwaningo, babhale ngaso isiZulu. Amaphepha ocwaningo abhalwe ngolimi
lwesiZulu aseqalile ayaphuma. Leli yigxathu elikhulu nelikhombisayo ukuthi
umnyango wezilimi ubambisene kakhulu kangakanani nobuholi benyuvesi
ekuthuthukiseni ulimi lwesiZulu lube ulimi lokufunda nokufundisa, ulimi
locwaningo nolimi lokuxhumana nomphakathi (Kamwendo, Hlongwa &
Mkhize 2013). Akugcini nje lapho kodwa umnyango wezilimi ngokukhulu
ukuzikhandla ubambisene nehhovisi elengamele ukuhlelwa nokuthuthukiswa
kolimi ekwakhiweni kwamatemu akuwona wonke amakolishi amane
eNyuvesi yaKwaZulu-Natali aphinde ahlelenjwe kusetshenziswana
nezinhlaka ezifana noMkhandlu WesiZulu Kuzwelonke (UMZUKAZWE),
Ibhodi Yezilimi Zonke ZaseNingizimu Afrika (PanSALB), UMnyango
Wezamasiko Nobuciko, iHhovisi likaNdunankulu esifundazweni saKwaZulu-
Natali noMasipala weTheku.
ENyuvesi yaseRhodes, uMaseko (2014:39) usibikela ukuthi
umnyango wezilimi zomdabu ugxile kulokhu okulandelayo ekucwaningeni
nasekufundiseni ulimi lwesiXhosa: bafundisa ulimi lwesiXhosa njengolimi
lwesibili noma ulimi lokusebenza kodwa bagxila kakhulu olimini
nakumasiko; IsiXhosa njengolimi lwebele (bafundisa ucwaningo, ukufundisa
ucwaningozilimi, ubuciko bomlomo; ukwakhiwa kwezinsizakufundisa
eziliminingi kanye nokuqalisa ukusebenzisa isiXhosa njengolimi lokufunda
nokufundisa).
Kubaluleke ngani ukuthi kufundwe izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika?
UNadudere (2011:90) uthi kubalulekile ukuthi kufundiswe izilimi zomdabu
zase-Afrika ngoba baningi abantu abazikhulumayo, nabaziqondayo. Abantu
abangama-Afrika bayakwazi ukuveza ubuhlakani nobugagu uma besebenzisa
izilimi zabo. Ukufundiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika bekuhlala kuyinto
ebangwayo eNingizimu Afrika. Kwathi uma kubonakala ukuthi abomdabu
base-Afrika baphumelelaa kahle kwashintshwa futhi kwagxilwa ekufundiseni
izilimi zomdabu njengolimi lwesibili, abaningi abamhlophe bashiya
ukufundisa izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika.
Njengamanje ezikhungweni eziningi zemfundo ephakeme kugxilwe
ekufundisweni kwezilimi zomdabu kubafundi abansundu base-Afrika kodwa
akhona amanyuvesi afundisa izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika kulaba bolimi
lwesibili. Into eyenzekayo ukuthi amanyuvesi amaningi asaqhubeka
nokufundisa izifundo ezigxile kucwaningozilimi (linguistics), lokhu okwenze

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ukuthi babe bancane kakhulu abafundi ababa nothando lokufunda lezi zilimi.
Kunesidingo esikhulu sokuthi kubuyekezwe esikufundisayo ngoba lokho
kuzobe kuhambisana nezinhlelo zezinguquko zamanyuvesi kanye nezezwe
laseNingizimu Afrika njengengxenye yeziphakamiso zomqulu we-HSS.
Kumele izilimi zomdabu zifundiswe ngazo uqobo hhayi ukuthi
kusetshenziswe isiNgisi. Kumele iminyango isebenzisane namanye amazwe
ase-Afrika eseningizimu enamazwe ayi-15 ukuze kuqiniswe ubumbano
kusetshenziswane ekukhuphuleni umnotho wezwekazi lase-Afrika. Nazo
izikhungo zemfundo ephakeme kuzomele impela zibambisane
ekuthuthukisweni kwezilimi zomdabu.

Amathuba ezilimi zomdabu ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme

UNzimande (2012) uthi ukuthuthukiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika
kweyeme emaqinisweni omphakathi okuyizinto ezingumgogodla
wokwakhiwa kwesizwe nokuthuthukisa ubumbano ezweni lethu.
Ukuthuthukiswa kwazo zonke izilimi ezisemthethweni kuyisidingo ngoba
kuzobuyisa isithunzi futhi kuyilungelo, yikhona okuzokwenza sikwazi ukuthi
sifinyelele emazingeni aphakeme emfundo, kulondoloze amagugu ethu,
ukuxhumana kanjalo namasiko. Leli yithuba elihle lokuthi iminyango
eyengamele izilimi zomdabu ithuthukise ubudlelwane phakathi kwayo
neminyango eyengamele ubuchwepheshe bolwazi lwezokuxhumana. Uma
lokhu kwenziwa kumele kuqalwe kwakhiwe ikhophasi kazwelonke yalezo
zilimi ezihlonziwe. Lokhu kuzokwenza kube lula ukusungula amathuluzi
okuhlola ukupelwa kwamagama, okulondoloza amatemu, okuhumusha kanye
nawezichazimagama ezitholalaka kuwebhu. INyuvesi yaKwaZulu-Natali
beyethula ngokusemthethweni isikhungo esengamele ukuhlelwa
nokuthuthukiswa kolimi ngamhla zingama-25 kuLwezi 2014. Kuwo lowo
mkhankaso kwethulwe ikhophasi yokuqala kazwelonke yesiZulu. Amanye
amanyuvesi asethathe igxathu i-UNISA (Kosch noBosch 2014). IRhodes
kanye nenyuvesi yaseKapa nabo sebenze umsebenzi oncomekayo. Amanye
amanyuvesi azobuka okuhle okwenziwe yilezi zikhungo bese nawo enza
kahle. Kungaba isu elihle ukufakwa kolwazi olubhalwe ngezilimi zomdabu
kuwebhu (wikipedia) ukuze kuvalwe igebe elidalwe ubuchwepheshe bolwazi
lokuxhumana (ICT). UBatibo (2009) uveza amathuba kanye nezingqinamba
ekusetshenzisweni kwezilimi zomdabu ezikhungwenu zemfundo ephakeme.

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Elinye lamaphuzu aliphakamisile yilelo lokufakwa kwezinhlelo zolwazi

lwesintu ekufundiseni izilimi zomdabu. Elinye iphuzu aliphakamisile yilelo
lokusetshenziswa kwezilimi zomdabu njengezilimi zokufunda nokufundisa.

Izingqinamba
Ukufunda nokufundisa izilimi zomdabu ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme
eNingizimu Afrika kukhombisa ukuthi muningi umsebenzi okusamele
wenziwe ukuze sikuqinisekise ukuthi sikhululekile. Lapho kumele kuqalwe
khona kukuyo inqubomgomo yolimi yezemfundo ephakeme. Kunesidingo
esikhulu sokuthi kubekwe abathile abazoqapha izikhungo zemfundo
ephakeme ukuthi ziyayiletha yini imibiko futhi lukhona yini ushintsho
olwenzekayo mayelana nokufundiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika.
UMnyango nawo awungeneleli ngokwanele ekuqapheni lesi simo. Ngeke
sikwazi ukuqhubeka nokufundisa izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika sibe
sisebenzisa ezinye izilimi. Uma senza kanjalo sizobe siqhuba khona lokho
okwakusophwe ngabelungu ngesikhathi beletha imfundo e-Afrika.
Ingqinamba yokungabikhona kwezincwadi ezibhalwe ngezilimi zomdabu
ifuna ukubhekisiswa impela. UNkolola-Wakumelo (2010:237) ukhala
kakhulu ngokungabibikho kwabantu abaqeqeshekile ekushicilileni ngezilimi
zomdabu; inqubomgomo yolimi yezinkampani ezingabashicileli;
izingqinamba zobuchwepheshe; uvalo lokuthi imibhalo ebhalwe ngezilimi
zomdabu izongafundwa ngabantu, kanti izikhungo eziningi zemfundo
zizimbandakanye emiqhudelwaneni eminingi nezikhungo zamazwe omhlaba
lapho kuhlonzwa khona izikhungo zemfundo ephakame ezinabacwaningi
abacaphunwa kakhulu ngabanye. Elinye iphuzu elibalulekile umcwaningi
afisa ukuliveza eliyingqinamba yilelo lesabelo zimali eziqondene nezifundo
zezilimi okumele sibuyekezwe, ngisho umbiko we-ASSAF (2011)
uyaligcizelela leli phuzu. Uma kungukuthi kunomehluko esifuna ukuwubona
ekuthuthukisweni kwezilimi zomdabu iyadinga ukufakelwa izibuko indaba
yesabelo-zimali.

Iziphakamiso nesiphetho
Umsebenzi wokuthuthukisa izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika ezikhungweni
zemfundo ephakeme unzima kakhulu kodwa kuyajabulisa futhi kunika

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Nobuhle Ndimande-Hlongwa

ithemba ukubona igalelo likaNgqongqoshe uDokotela uBlade Nzimande kulo

mshikamshika. Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuthi abaholi bamanyuvesi
bayisukumele phezulu indaba yokwenziwa kwenqubomogomo yolimi
isebenze; ijoka lingathweswa kuphela iminyango yezilimi zomdabu
ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme. Mayelana nengqinamba ebekiwe
yabaqaphi bokuthi izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika ziyathuthukiswa futhi
ziyasetshenziswa yini ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme, kumele
imikhandlu yamanyuvesi inikeze uMnyango wezemfundo ephakeme
izimpendulo njalo emva kweminyaka emihlanu. Lokhu akwenzeki yize noma
kubhalwe phansi kunqubomgomo yolimi eMnyangweni wezemfundo
ephakame (2002). Kumele ngabe uhulumeni lokhu ukuqapha ngeso lokhozi
njengeminye yemibiko ebhekwayo ngaphambi kokuthi isikhungo nesikhungo
sinikezwe isabelozimali sangaleso sikhathi sonyaka. Kukhulunywe kakhulu
ngemiqulu yamazwe omhlaba okubandakanya isibophezelo sase-Asmara
esikubeka ngokusobala ukuthi izilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika zibaluleke
kangakanani uma kukhulunywa ngomkhankaso wokuqwebuka kwe-Afrika
futhi asikwazi ukuwuqhuba ube yimpumelelo uma sishiya emumva izilimi
zomdabu zase-Afrika. Kuyinto eyihlazo kakhulu ukuthi amazwe afana
noMelika alekelele ekufundisweni kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika edlule
thina lapha eNingizimu Afrika. Ayisaphathwa eyokuhamba uye kuwo futhi la
mazwe uyokwethula inkulumo ngolimi lomdabu kodwa ubizwe ngamagama
ayiziswana ezweni lakho uma wethula inkulumo yakho ngolimi lomdabu
engqungqutheleni yezilimi zomdabu. Impela lona umsebenzi onzima odinga
abantu abazoma babekezele, bazinikele ekuthuthukiseni izilimi zomdabu.
Into embi nje ukuthi basilele emuva kwabanye ngokocwaningo kodwa
bayothi belishiya leli sibe isizukulwane sikaPhunga noMageba,
sikaMoshoeshoe, sikaHintsa nabanye abaholi bethu baphambilini siziqhenya
ngefa esiyobe sibashiyele lona. Lesi yisikhathi sezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika,
ngakho-ke asisisebenzise ukuthatha izilimi zisifake ebuchwephesheni
bamakhompuyutha ukuze zithuthuke emhlabeni wonke. Asibhaleni izincwadi
sishicilele namajenali ngezilimi zethu zomdabu, singalindi ukuthi siyoze
senzelwe ngabanye thina sisonge izandla. Ashayelwa ihlombe amanyuvesi
aseluthathele phezulu lolu daba lwezilimi zomdabu kwezemfundo ephakeme
eNingizimu Afrika ngoba lokho kuchaza ukuthi ayalazi igalelo lalezo zilimi
nokubaluleka kwazo enkululekweni yokukhuluma, kanye nasezinguqukweni
zaleso naleso sikhungo.

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Nobuhle Ndimande-Hlongwa
Idini Yezokufunda Nokufundisa
Isikole sezoBuciko
Inyuvesi yaKwaZulu-Natali
[email protected]

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