{"id":17911,"date":"2025-04-07T12:04:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T10:04:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sabc.co.za\/sabc\/?p=17911"},"modified":"2025-04-07T12:04:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T10:04:43","slug":"media-release-rsg-counts-down-to-afrikaans-100-with-sending-van-ver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sabc.co.za\/sabc\/media-release-rsg-counts-down-to-afrikaans-100-with-sending-van-ver\/","title":{"rendered":"MEDIA RELEASE | RSG COUNTS DOWN TO \u2018AFRIKAANS 100\u2019 WITH SENDING VAN V\u00caR"},"content":{"rendered":"
Johannesburg \u2013 Monday, 7 April 2025 –<\/b>\u00a0RSG\u2019s brand new afternoon drama series, Sending van V\u00ear<\/i>, has been specially developed and written by Eben Cruywagen to celebrate 100 years of Afrikaans.<\/div>\n
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Listeners can tune in from 7 April 2025 every weekday at 14:45 (except on 18 April, Good Friday) for 23 episodes. The final episode will broadcast on 8 May 2025, the day Afrikaans celebrates its centenary as an official language.<\/div>\n
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Since May 2024, RSG has been creating content leading up to the \u2018Afrikaans 100\u2019<\/i> celebrations. As part of this initiative, Eben Cruywagen was commissioned to adapt a series of classic stories and create new ones that reflect the rich history and versatility of Afrikaans. Several of these adaptations are already available as podcasts:<\/div>\n
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\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Die Sprinkaanbeampte van Sluis<\/i>\u00a0\u2013 Listen her<\/a>e<\/div>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ou Leeumelker<\/i>\u00a0\u2013 Listen her<\/a>e<\/div>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gelykheid en Broederskap<\/i>\u00a0\u2013 Listen her<\/a>e<\/div>\n
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A Tribute to Afrikaans\u2019 power of imagination<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
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Eben Cruywagen explains:<\/div>\n
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\u201cWith this series, I wanted to showcase the creativity, versatility, and adaptability of the Afrikaans language, as well as its ability to create neologisms\u2014even in a quasi-scientific realm, such as in the distant future in a galaxy far, far away, to borrow George Lucas\u2019s famous Star Wars<\/i>\u00a0introduction. Languages that are literally hundreds of years older than Afrikaans, like the West Germanic languages German and Dutch, are slow to develop neologisms. However, in Afrikaans, if we can\u2019t come up with an appropriate new word, we reshape foreign words in such a way that they become authentically Afrikaans! I hope that listeners experience this story as a fun exploration of the wonder of the Afrikaans language. (And may this precious language of ours one day achieve Intergalactic status…!).\u201d<\/div>\n
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Eben\u2019s inspiration starts with:<\/div>\n
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\u201cC.J. Langenhoven\u2019s Loeloeraai<\/i>, published in 1923 by Nasionale Pers Beperk, which is widely regarded as the very first science fiction story in Afrikaans. As one of the major figures in securing Afrikaans as an official language, this story is also a tribute to C.J. Langenhoven\u2019s significant contribution as a champion of the language. Although Sending van Ver<\/i>\u00a0is not a direct adaptation of Langenhoven\u2019s story, it does in some respects freely draw from its themes. The story even takes a detour to Oudtshoorn in 1923, where Loeloeraai<\/i>\u00a0makes his earthly visit to Neelsie, Vroutjie, Engela, and Oom Stoffel\u2014complete with Jakhals, the sheepdog, and Herrie, the elephant.\u201d<\/div>\n
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A Space Journey Through Time and Language<\/b><\/div>\n
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Director Johan Rademan brings this ambitious radio drama to life:<\/div>\n
\u201cLike Loeloeraai<\/i>\u00a0in 1923, Sending van V\u00ear<\/i> is a ground-breaking literary treasure. Cruywagen skilfully uses dialogue as an educational tool\u2014not only to engage with the current discourse on language and its 100-year journey but also to dissect and project bold assumptions and conclusions.
\nA Star Wars<\/i>-like spectacle is created, complete with a unique, time-space-specific linguistic system that unfolds across geography and time. How better to portray history and geography to the modern ear? The true test lies in a compelling, executable short serial drama, brought to life by an outstanding cast of radio actors.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The Story<\/b><\/div>\n
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In Sending van Ver<\/i>, Loeloeraai<\/i>\u00a0(DeKlerk Oelofse) travels from a galaxy far, far away to our universe. Under the guise of cultural cooperation, these visitors are searching for vital resources to ensure the survival of their own planet. \u00a0Unaware of this hidden agenda, Loeloeraai<\/i> focuses on Sagmoedige Neelsie<\/i>\u00a0(Andr\u00e9 Terblanche) and his quest to have Afrikaans recognized as an official language. This journey leads him to 1997, where he meets Didius Deelman<\/i>\u00a0(Enrico Hartzenberg), an enthusiastic young spaceflight enthusiast studying at Stellenbosch University.<\/div>\n
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However, Loeloeraai<\/i>\u2019s visit has another purpose: he is searching for a secret agent from the future, disguised as a geneticist (Wilhelm van der Walt<\/i>), who is attempting to eliminate the gene responsible for human speech. Without communication, there can be no progress – making it easier to exploit the planet\u2019s resources. Didius<\/i> becomes involved in the mission, and due to unforeseen circumstances, they accidentally travel 3,000 years into the future.<\/div>\n
There, they discover a devastated Taalmonument<\/i> (Language Monument) and a world where people are impoverished, homeless, and mute – the geneticist has succeeded in his mission!<\/div>\n
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In a desperate attempt to change the course of history, Loeloeraai<\/i>\u00a0and his companions return to 1997, where they successfully stop the geneticist and restore the future. When they revisit the Taalmonument<\/i> on 8 May 5025, they are amazed to find the grand Intergalactic Language Institute<\/i>. Afrikaans has officially become an intergalactic language!<\/div>\n
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Star-Studded Cast<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
This production features an impressive cast, including:<\/div>\n