‘Students should learn an African language’

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has urged local students to learn at least one African language. Photo: Jeffrey Abrahams

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has urged local students to learn at least one African language. Photo: Jeffrey Abrahams

Published Jul 25, 2011

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Pietermaritzburg - Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande on Sunday challenged South Africans to learn African languages.

He cited the enthusiasm shown by a group of American students, who are studying the Zulu language, as an example that others should follow.

“This should serve as an encouragement to all South Africans including our own kids and communities that they learn at least one African language not just German, or French, because now they see that others take an interest in African languages,” Nzimande said.

He was welcoming a group of American students who were visiting KwaZulu-Natal for a Zulu language course.

The language study programme supported by a United States education agency also has students in Nigeria learning Yoruba while others are learning Swahili in Tanzania.

The students in South Africa will return to the United States on August 8. - Sapa

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