Parliament, Monday, 13 October 2025 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Joy Maimela, has raised concern that the school language policy of Afrikaans and English in some Free State schools was discriminating against African languages.
Speaking during oversight visits to schools in the Lejweleputswa district in Welkom, Ms Maimela said it was unfair that the policy allowed only Afrikaans and English as languages of teaching from grade 4 to 12, and the other languages were only used for teaching in the lower grades (1-3).
“This means that learners whose mother tongue is Afrikaans are more privileged than the other children in these schools, we do not have a problem with Afrikaans, but we say all languages must be treated equally,” she said.
Another problem which the committee noted and which the Chairpersons believes also borders on possible discrimination, was the lack of black African teachers at Orion Special, which is a result of the recruitment requirement of English and Afrikaans.
Ms Maimela said this requirement was designed to exclude black teachers from applying for teaching posts. The committee has asked the department to prepare a comprehensive report about this recruitment policy.
During a visit to Welkom Secondary, the committee also saw that the school was facing infrastructure challenges as well as vandalism, drug abuse, gangsterism, teenage pregnancy which results in learner dropouts. The committee also came across raw sewer flowing on the streets at the entrance to the school during it visit at the school. It heard that situation has been like that for about four years.
After unconvincing responses by departmental officials about the infrastructure challenges such as shortage of classrooms which leads to overcrowding, and inadequate toilets, the committee resolved that the Free State Department of Education must submit a comprehensive plan to attend to the challenges, and for the municipality to fix the sewer problem.
The committee also visited Vitrivier Farm Primary School and heard about problems of unreliable scholar transport which often becomes unavailable due to breakdowns and non-payments by the department, resulting in children missing classes for weeks. The principal and his three teachers are responsible for 93 learners and have pleaded with the committee to engage the department to recruit more teachers for the farm school.
The committee also questioned the employment of foreign teachers at Edmund Rice Independent School. It demanded reasons for the employment of foreigners as if there are no suitably qualified South African teachers.
The committee will continue with its oversight programme in the province, with more schools to be visited in the Lejweleputswa education district tomorrow.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION, MS JOY MAIMELA.
For media enquiries or interviews with the committee Chairperson, please contact:
Name: Sakhile Mokoena
Cell: 081 705 2130
E-mail: smokoena@parliament.gov.za
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