Afrikaans 100’s review committee. (Photo: Rhewal)
Various organisations, institutions, companies and role players from the Afrikaans community gathered on Monday at the Kleinkaap boutique hotel in Centurion for the official launch of Afrikaans 100, a campaign founded to celebrate Afrikaans’ centenary in 2025.
Michael Jonas, director of the Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument, said during the event that it is important that the emphasis falls on 100 years of Afrikaans’ official status.
“The origin and development of Afrikaans dates back to 1595. Although this period is often referred to as the first period in the history of Afrikaans, it is 8 May 1925 that will be remembered and commemorated. It is considered one of the monumental milestones in the history of this relatively young African language.”
Michael Jonas and Dr. Theuns Eloff. (Photo: Rhewal)
On 8 May 2025 it will therefore be 100 years since Afrikaans was accepted as an official language alongside English by the Official Languages Act of South Africa, Act 8 of 1925, in the parliament at the time.
The Afrikaans 100 campaign is coordinated under the leadership of the Afrikaans Language Council (ATR) and the Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument (ATM), and a wide and representative group of Afrikaans organizations are also involved.
In the run-up to the national festival event, which will be held on 8 May 2025 at the Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument in Paarl, an overview committee, as well as working committees for different sectors, has been set up.
According to dr. Theuns Eloff, chairman of the Afrikaans 100 review committee, the management team was put together early on with the aim of providing a framework within which all organisations, small and large, can celebrate Afrikaans’ 100th anniversary in South Africa in the next two years.
Leon Ecroignard, Amanda Strydom and Dean Balie entertained guests at the Afrikaans 100 launch. (Photo: Rhewal)
The review committee consists of Astrid de Vos (Dagbreek Trust), dr. Theuns Eloff (Trust for Afrikaans Education) (chairman), Dianne Ferrus (writer and poet), Werner Human (Solidarity Beweging), Michael Jonas (Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument) (vice-chairman), Susan Lombaard (Rhewal), Karen Meiring ( Nuuseum), Sinki Mlambo (NWU), Hendrik Theys (UWK), Merlyn van der Rheede (Afrikaans Taalraad), and Heinrich Wyngaard (Cape Forum). The Afrikaans Language Council, with Ria Olivier and Conrad Steenkamp, acts as secretariat.
Eloff believes that the fact that Afrikaans has survived its official language status in the midst of all the political change is in itself something to celebrate.
“Along with that, Afrikaans has reached many milestones in the past 100 years. All those milestones should be celebrated.”
The oversight committee will play a coordinating role in the Afrikaans 100 campaign, while working committees are responsible for holding a variety of festivals and events at all levels of the community throughout the country.
Sue Pyler-Slabbert. (Photo: Rhewal)
Guests who attended the launch of the campaign were treated to finger snacks and drinks. Sue Pyler-Slabbert presented the program and artists such as Amanda Strydom, Coenraad Rall, Dean Balie, Kosie Beukes and Leon Ecroignard provided the entertainment.
Any community, organization, school, company, institution or individual who shares the goals of the Afrikaans 100 initiative is invited to be part of the celebrations by launching their own projects. The objectives of the Afrikaans 100 initiative are contained in a manifesto which is available in this media pack. Organizations that want to be part of the Afrikaans 100 initiative are invited to sign the manifesto and [email protected] to send. Upon receipt of the signed manifesto, the oversight committee will provide the official Afrikaans 100 brand to such institutions, who can then use it on their own communications, marketing and other initiatives to indicate that they are part of the larger Afrikaans 100 initiative.
