PARENT WINS DURBAN HIGH SCHOOL LANGUAGE CASE

SABC News
September 30 2008

The Durban Equality court has ruled as unfair discrimination the failure by Durban High School to offer proper isiZulu lessons to its Zulu speaking learners.

Judgment has just been delivered in the case involving Pan-South African Language Board (Pansalb) CEO Ntombenhle Nkosi.

She took the school to the Equality court complaining that her son was being unfairly discriminated against by being taught his langauge as a second additional language - which should be offered to non-isiZulu speakers.

Nkosi says she feels vindicated by the Court after it ruled in her favour. Nkosi added that it was the duty of every parent to ensure that their children are taught the correct subjects.

"Parents must just not take it for granted that schools are going to do it for them, they won't. Every parent must ensure that their language - be it isiXhosa, be it isiSwati, Zetswane, Sesotho Saleboa, Tshivenda, Tsonga - must be offered as the first language because the National Curriculum Statement states that every learner must choose the home language, not the home language of the school."