Charlize Theron needs to rectify her misconception of Afrikaans, says PanSALB
The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) says the comments by Charlize Theron are perpetuating a misconception that only white people speak Afrikaans.
Theron, born and raised in Benoni, has left Afrikaans speakers hot under the collar for suggesting that Afrikaans is a dying language.
"There's about 44 people still speaking it -- it's definitely a dying language. It's not a very helpful language," said the Oscar-winning actor.
The 47-year-old made the comments on US podcast, "Smartless."
PanSALB has hit back, saying "the comments are not only disheartening but are disturbing as they are inaccurate and misleading."
Theron has been trending on social media for the past 48 hours after Afrikaans actors, political parties and civil organisations joined the fray.
According to a Stats SA survey, Afrikaans is the 3rd most spoken language in South Africa.
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"Theron perpetuates the persistent misconception that Afrikaans is only spoken by white 'boere' South Africans," read a statement by CEO Lance Schultz.
Schultz added that 60% of those who speak Afrikaans are black.
Theron also said that she didn't speak English until she was 19 because "nobody" in her predominantly Afrikaans neighbourhood spoke it.
Schultz has lashed her comments about her mother tongue, saying Afrikaans is the "foundation of her rather illustrious career."
Theron has been urged to use her stardom to "highlight some of the critical socio-economic issues that affect the continent including the importance of participating in public life using one's mother tongue."