Celani Sikhakhane
Imiphakathi ekhuluma isiSotho emaphandleni aKwaZulu-Natali edolobheni laseNquthu ikhathazekile ngokuthi zimbalwa izikole zendawo ezifundisa izingane ngolimi lwebele.
Bakhala nangokuthi ezinye izikhungo zikahulumeni ziwubukela phansi umphakathi wabeSotho, ngoba zikhuluma ngesiNgisi nangesiZulu kuphela.
AbaSotho bayisizwe esidala kunazo zonke eNquthu. Abantu abayisizwe sabeSotho eNquthu bangu-7%, ngokusho kwe-Stats SA. Induna yabo nguBokang Molefe.
URapelang Motloung, onguNdunankulu kaMolefe, uthe babhekene nenkinga, eyaqala kudala.
“Sekuyiminyaka isizwe sabeSotho saqala ukulwa nalolu daba. Kodwa kuze kube manje alukalungiswa. Uma ngingaphosisi, ngicabanga ukuthi sinesikole samabanga aphansi esisodwa kuphela esifundisa izingane zethu ngesiSotho. Ezinye izikole zifundisa izingane zethu IsiZulu. Asikho isifundo sesiSotho,” kusho uMotloung.
Udaba seludluliselwe ku-Pan South African Language Board (Pansalb), esho.
Izikole ezihlinzeka ngezifundo zesiSotho yi-Ikaheng Primary School, i-Tlokweng Primary ne-Leneha-Tumisang Secondary School kuphela. Kodwa lezi zikole zisendaweni eyodwa kulesi sifunda esenyakatho yeKZN.
Ezinye izindawo esifundeni zinakekela ulimi lwesiZulu kuphela.
Le nkinga iyakhathaza, kusho uMotloung, ngoba isizukulwane esisha singagcina sikhuluma nokhokho babo ngesiZulu, hhayi ngolimi lwabo lwebele. Lokhu kuzodala izinkinga eziningi zomndeni.
UMnyango Wezasekhaya ushintshe ngisho nezibongo zabo zaba isiZulu, engeza.
“Uzothola ukuthi isibongo sakwaMotloung nguNdlovu kumazisi. UMotaung nguMndaweni. UKganya nguKhanyi. Lokhu akulungile neze futhi kudinga ukungenelelwa okunzulu ngoba kancane kancane silahlekelwa ubunikazi bethu,” kusho uMotloung.
Okhulumela uMnyango wezeMfundo eKZN, uMuzi Mahlambi uthe udaba lwabeSotho baseNquthu luyabhekelelwa.
“Sisabheka ukuthi singaluxazulula kanjani lolu daba. NjengoMnyango kunemigomo okumele siyilandele. Kumele futhi sibheke ukuthi iyasebenza yini imali ukuhlinzeka lolu limi, okubandakanya nenani labafundi abadinga ulimi lwesiSuthu eNquthu ,” kusho uMahlambi.