GIYANI – "Xana hina Vatsonga/Machangana hi lo yine ke!!" (What have we as Vhatsonga/Machangana done!). This was the cry of the Vatsonga TV Committee during a meeting held at the Giyani Community Hall on Sunday.

The Programme Director, Mr Lesley Nkuna, said the meeting was to discuss their fight for the recognition of the Xitsonga language on television. Xitsonga speakers feel that they also need to be part of television broadcasts. Xitsonga is one of the eleven official languages, of the country, "so why are we linguistically marginalized, since linguistically no language is superior to another".

The co-coordinator of the meeting and guest speaker, Mr Mtileni, explained that a letter written to the SABC had had a negative response. The SABC said that it could not afford to introduce Shangaan programmes, is it would be very expensive for them. The main reason, however, was that the "Vatsonga are multilingual people and they can speak and understand almost all languages".

A second letter was directed to the Minister of Finance, requesting that the Vatsonga should have their tax reduced, because they are not covered in the multi-media.

The committee's third letter was directed to ECASA, requesting that Vathsonga be exempted from paying services to the SABC. Another letter was written to the Human Rights Commission, who acknowledged receipt of the letter. The fifth letter was directed to the Pan South African Language Board.

Mtileni also stated that a memorandum has been compiled to take the matter to the Constitutional Court.

During the meeting, an Interim Committee was formed. Mr Lesley Nkuna is the chairperson and his deputy General Baloyi. Mr Louis Mbhalati is the secretary, Dr K Tlakula is the vice-secretary and several additional members were also elected.