25 JULY 1970, Page 25

The Afrikaans language

Sir: A brief comment on Mr Krige's note on Afrikaans in your South African supplement (18 July): firstly, neither South Africa House, nor private firms recruiting for posts in the Republic, make it clear enough how essential the language is for acceptance, both socially and professionally; secondly, facil- ities for learning Afrikaans in the UK seem totally non-existent. A large London book- shop has only one textbook (very pedestrian) and nowhere can I find trace of any classes on Afrikaans.