On 8 May 1925 Afrikaans was recognised as an official language of South Africa.
But like many things that develop naturally and organically, the birth of Afrikaans cannot be traced back to a specific date and person. You'll find early spouts at the southern tip of Africa where a cauldron of languages and a medley of cultural influences slowly but surely stirred and simmered until a unique African language, Afrikaans, emerged.
According to Census 2011, I am part of the 12.7 Afrikaans home language speakers in Gauteng. But truth be told I would have been part of the 53.8 speakers in the Northern Cape, because I am one of the thousands of children of the Northern Cape soil that had to migrate from the uitgestrekte vlaktes vast plains of the biggest province in the country with the smallest population for job opportunities.
After a shortleft in the Free State I landed in Gauteng where according to the census, Afrikaans is still the 3 rd most spoken language, but alas only 12.4 of the population reporting it as their home language.
My problem is when I walk pass a coloured or mixed-race person whatever tickles your fancy, or a white person my brain switch to Afrikaans and I want to converse in my mother language wat ek met moedersmelk ingekry het.
