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4 Jue 1996
Re: Translation of Arch Bishop Prince Madlakadlaka's letter requesting
recognition of Khilobedu as twelfth official language in the new
Constitution
Dear President of the Constitutional Court:
When
the President of South Africa inaugurated the Constitutional Court, I noticed
that the logo representing eleven languages. Khilobedu was not one of
them. In 1990 when I requested the past government to grant all languages
official recognition, I forgot to include
Khilobedu.
The
Khilobedu community has now requested me to make representation on their
behalf, that Khilobedu be given recognition as one of the official
languages in the new Constitution. On 29 April, 1996 I faxed a letter to the
chairman
of the Constitutional Assembly requesting him to recognise
Khilobedu as such. On the 30th April 1996 1 received a reply by fax in
which the chairman informed me that they were still completing the
writing of
the Constitution and would contact me later. I informed Queen Modjadje of the
Balobedu about these developments.
When the new Constitutional
text was released by the Constitutional Assembly I thought Khilobedu
would now be a 12th official language. On radio and television they speak only
of eleven languages. The Balobedu community is under the rule of the
Bapedi, but we are a distinctive group from the latter. Balobedu
(those who speak Khilobedu) in South Africa are more than the Ndebele and
Swazis. Khilobedu originates from Khirotswe, that is, the language
spoken by the Barotse in Zambia. The Balobedu people came from
Zimbabwe to South Africa in the year 1500.
I humbly request that
Khilobedu become the 12th official language in the new Constitutional
Text. Also I request that Khilobedu be taught to students who are native
speakers of the language and Ndebele or English be taught as their second
language.
Having considered the situation in other African countries,
such as Liberia, I have come to the conclusion that the government of
National
Unity is the best model for South Africa. As a clergyman I totally reject a
totalitarian state. I do not want to see
South Africa following in the steps
of other African countries. To prevent all these problems a government of
National Unity is
the best solution. Even though the National Party has
withdrawn from the government of National Unity, I still suggest that if it
is
possible, all political parties which were involved in the drafting of the 1993
Constitution should agree to national mediation
as was requested by the Inkatha
Freedom Party. However, the decision still lies with all political parties and
the Constitutional
Court.
PRINCE MADLAKADLAKA
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