Taalkoerant 10 (Januarie 2002)

Die Taalsekretariaat Doelstelling

Ek is nie juis vaardig met stories skryf nie. Dit maak ook nie soveel saak nie. Dit gaan hier nie om die storie nie, maar om dít wat die storie wil sê. Eintlik gaan dit om die stert.

Wat is die verband tussen MIV-Vigs en veeltaligheid?

Dit was tydens die September-sitting verlede jaar toe die Portefeuljekomitee Gemeenskapsdienste van die Stad Kaapstad hul beleid moes bepaal: ’n Arbeidsbeleid, ’n Korporatiewe beleid, ’n beleid rondom Kommunikasie en ’n Vigs-beleid. Onder andere.

Dis nogal ’n imposante vergadersaal. Blou sitplekke vir die swart en wit raadslede. Amptenare by tafels — oorgetrek met plastiek-eikehout. Aan die orde was ’n debat oor die beleid wat die raad moet volg ten opsigte van MIV-Vigs. Nie ’n swaarwigtige debat oor wat die oorsake van die pandemie is nie. Nee, net ’n debat oor wat gedoen moet word om mense in nood te help.

Die voorsitter is wit. Net so wit soos sy hemp met die goue mansjetknopies wat kort-kort in die lig van die neonlig flits. Hy is eentalig Engels. Die politiek werk so. As jy die meerderheidsparty is, is die pos joune. Vaardigheid in ten minste twee tale maak nie saak nie. Daarom is die debat in Engels.

Aan die woord is ’n swart raadslid. Van watter party? Ek weet nie. Vir die doeleindes van die storie maak dit ook nie saak nie.

Raadslede sit gewoonlik as hulle praat, dié een staan. Hy is gewoond om te praat en ander wat luister. Loop ook so nou en dan ’n passie links, en dan regs. Sy oopnekhemp en effe verslete denimbroek vorm ’n skrille kontras teenoor die onberispelik-geklede voorsitter. Duidelik ’n gemeenskapsleier, dié man (van Kayelitsha dalk?). Sy mederaadslede luister met eerbiedwaardige respek vir dié skimmel-middeljarige man.

Ná twintig minute is hy nog aan die woord. Hy sukkel, herhaal homself, weer ’n passie links, soek na woorde om sy punt te maak. Sien, hy moet Engels praat.

Die voorsitter raak naderhand ergerlik. Die raadslid moet nou sy punt maak en gaan sit.

Die denimbroekman druk deur. Van sy mederaadslede luister nog. Hy wil sy ervaring van die Vigsprobleem in sy gemeenskap aan die raad oordra. Hy leef daarmee saam. Sien hoe sy mense deur die “poison” sterf. Hulle moenie onder sy mense pamflette oor “die poison” versprei nie. Hulle ...

Die voorsitter trek sy een wit mou aan die netjies gestrykte naat met sy ander hand op. Val die spreker in die rede. Sy tyd om te praat het verstryk. Lankal. Hy moet sy sitplek inneem.

Volgende punt op die agenda. Beleid oor raadslede se voorkeure vir versnaperings tydens teetyd.

Tydens teetyd vra ek die raadslid wat hy nog wou sê: “Hulle kan nie eens lees nie, veral nie Engels nie,” was sy antwoord.

Politiek het gewen, MIV-Vigsbeleid het verloor. Ver.

Die verband tussen MIV-Vigs en veeltaligheid?

’n Raadslid is ontmagtig deur nie in sy taal sy bydrae te maak nie. Een van vele. ’n Gemeenskap is ontmagtig deurdat die boodskap nie deurgekom het nie. Een van vele. “Moenie pamflette in my gemeenskap oor “poison” kom rondgooi nie, hulle kan nie eens lees nie, veral nie Engels nie.”

Dit is ook waar van misdaad, werkloosheid, bendegeweld, ongeletterdheid, basiese ordentlikheid, noem maar op. Die basis vir ’n beter gemeenskapslewe — ’n beter Suid-Afrika — begin deur met my te praat en my te leer in die taal wat ek verstaan. Respekteer my taal. As ek krapperig is oor my taal, gaan alles rondom my naderhand jeuk/neuk.

Die lang stert. ’n Konstitusie (in Engels) vir die stigting van ’n Assosiasie vir Veeltaligheid word hierby aangeheg as dokument. Die doel van die Assosiasie is net dít: om veeltaligheid te bevorder. Daardeur — so glo ons — sal die jeukplekke verminder.

Nou skinder ek half. ’n Veeltalige kultuur is die enigste omgewing waarbinne Afrikaans werklik kan groei en voortbestaan.

Enige kommentaar oor die lang stert sal verwelkom word.

André van der Walt
Taalsekretariaat
21 Januarie 2002

ASSOCIATION FOR MULTILINGUALISM

1. NAME AND AFFILIATION

The association shall be named Association For Multilingualism (AFM), hereinafter referred to as the Association and can affiliate with any national or regional Body or Council in the furtherance of the Association’s main Objectives.

2. AREA OF OPERATION

The area in which the Association shall operate is not restricted by any geographical boundaries.

3. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Association shall be:

To further and actively promote the use of diverse languages in all spheres of life;

To promote a culture of understanding between different languages;

To promote the use and status of marginalized languages;

To empower people through mother tongue education;

To actively strive for multilingualism in the public and private sector, and to engage communities and authorities to this end;

To encourage pupils and organisations through various grants of aid to broaden the scope of multilingualism;

To improve the quality of life of communities through the promotion of cultural activities in the language of that community;

To advance the objectives of the Association through the publication of a Journal and any other means of communication;

To provide where necessary food, meals, clothing or other necessities, comfort and amenities to persons or communities in need;

To co-ordinate activities of people and institutions involved in the language professions;

To promote community involvement and community development by involving interested persons and bodies in the community;

To engage the electronic media and the public Broadcaster in promoting multilingualism;

To affiliate with any institution in the furtherance of these objectives;

To promote multilingualism by the creation of terminology, education and research.

4. MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Association shall be open to any person or institution, whether public or private, who identifies with the objectives of the Association, and shall complete a membership application to this end.

The secretary shall record and maintain a register of the names and addresses of members of the Association.

The Association in General Meeting may determine the amount, if any, of an annual membership subscription and the honorarium payable to members of the Management Committee.

The Association can bestow Honorary Membership upon persons in recognition of their achievements in promoting multilingualism.

5. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Management Committee of the Association shall be of not less than three members and not more than five members and shall comprise of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary.

Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated and elected at an inaugural meeting and shall hold office until the close of the first Annual General Meeting of members, and thereafter shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

At each Annual General Meeting of members one of the members of the Management Committee shall retire but shall be eligible for re-election.

6. ORGANIZATION

The affairs of the Association shall be conducted through the medium of:

The Annual General Meeting;

The Executive Committee elected by members at each Annual General Meeting;

Any committee or ad hoc committee appointed by the Executive Committee.

7. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by the Management Committee. The Management Committee may delegate functions to the officials or sub committees in its discretion.

The Management Committee has power generally to do any such acts as may be deemed necessary or expedient to achieve the objectives of the Association.

More specifically the Management Committee is empowered to:

Co-opt any person whether or not they are members of the Association and to fill any vacancy on any committee;

Set up Advisory or any sub committee of whatever nature, consisting of any person, whether or not they are members of the Association and determine their powers;

Utilise any income solely in the furtherance of its aims and objectives and is prohibited from transferring any portion of the income directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever so as to profit any person other than by way of the payment in good faith of reasonable remuneration to any officer, official or employee of the Association for any services rendered to the Association;

Appoint and contract professionals to conduct research;

Invest and deal with the monies of the Association and to open and operate banking and deposit accounts with any financial institution on behalf of the Association;

Donate to any person or organization such monies which relate directly to the objectives of the Association;

Receive any gift, endowment or bequest and to raise by private or public appeal subscription or donations as may deemed necessary or incidental for the attainment of the objectives of the Association;

Bring or defend any actions or other legal proceedings in any court of law, or to refer to arbitration, any matter, question or dispute, or enter into or accept any settlement absolute or conditional.

8. DUTIES OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Management Committee shall:

Keep minutes of all the meetings of the Management Committee in which the names shall be recorded of the members of the committee attending such meetings;

Forthwith deposit to the credit of the Association in an account within seven days all monies, including the proceeds from anything that can be exchanged or converted into money;

Keep such books and accounts as will accurately reflect the financial activities of the Association, including property acquired and disposed of;

Dispose with due diligence the instructions given to the management committee by any General meeting of Members.

9. MEETINGS: MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND GENERAL

The Management Committee shall meet at such times, dates and at such places as the Chairperson may decide.

The quorum necessary for the conduct of business by the Management Committee shall be fifty percent (50%) plus one member.

In addition to his ordinary vote the Chairperson is empowered with a second vote in case of a tie in votes casted.

An Annual General Meeting of members of the Association shall be held not later than four months after the close of each financial year.

At each Annual General Meeting of members a report by the Chairperson and the audited balance sheet and relevant accounts for the preceding year shall be presented to the meeting for adoption.

A special General Meeting shall be called at any time by the Management Committee, or by the Chairperson. The secretary shall upon request of at least thirty three percent (33%) of the members of the Association call a Special General Meeting.

Resolution at any meeting shall be taken by a simple majority.

Not less than fourteen (14) clear days notice shall be given at any General or Special Meeting by written notice posted to the addresses of members appearing in the register of membership.

If a resolution is to be passed other than the prescribed business of any meeting, due notice of such a resolution must be given in the notice of such meeting.

If a quorum is not present at an Annual General Meeting the meeting stands to be adjourned for seven days at the same time and same place and the members then present will constitute a quorum.

The Chairperson of the Management Committee shall assume the chair of any meeting or failing him a chairperson elected by the members present.

10. AUDIT

A registered Public Accountant shall be appointed as auditor by the Association in General Meeting to hold office until the next succeeding Annual General Meeting.

11. LIMITED LIABILITY

In the event of the organization being wound up, there shall be no liability incurred by any member other than in respect of his/her unpaid subscriptions if any or any money he/she may be legally owing to the Association.

12. FINANCIAL YEAR

The financial year of the Association shall close on the 31st March every year.

13. SPECIAL PROVISIONS

Paid officials of the organisation may serve on the management committee in an advisory capacity, but will have no voting rights.

No member of the management committee may have any direct interest in or benefit from any contract which the management committee may conclude with any company, unless such member has declared his interest.

Should the services of a fund-raiser be made use of for the collection of contributors, the expenses (remuneration and/or commission included) may not exceed 30% of the total proceeds of the collection.

14. AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

The Constitution of the Association may be amended by two thirds majority of members present or represented by proxy at a General Meeting of members of which at least fourteen (14) days clear notice has been given setting out the proposed amendment.

15. DISSOLUTION

The Association may be dissolved if at least two thirds of the members present at that meeting vote in favour of dissolution. Not less than fourteen days notice shall be given for such a meeting and notice convening the meeting shall clearly state the question of dissolution and disposal of its assets will be considered. If there is no quorum at such General Meeting, the meeting shall adjourn for seven days at the same time and place, and the members attending such adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum.

If upon dissolution of the Association there remain any assets whatsoever after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such assets shall not be paid to any member or employee, but shall be transferred to a non-governmental community based institution or organization preferably having the same objectives as set out in this constitution.

André van der Walt
Taalsekretariaat
Heroldstraat 15
Stellenbosch.

Tel. 021-8872713 of 0824626480.
Faks: 021-8872710.
E-Pos taal@linguasek.co.za

boontoe

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