VIDEO: Social media buzzing about Tswana speaking kids from Klerksdorp

“Are the voices dubbed?”

“It’s good that there are white people out there who are willing to really learn our African languages.”

“They can have the land!”

These were some of the reactions on social media when a video of a young white girl from Klerksdorp speaking fluent Tswana went viral on social media.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxdpH-gSLgA

Miné Ernst (8) has had social media buzzing since April when a video of her having a conversation in Tswana with a woman was shared on social media.

According to Rika Ernst, Miné’s mother, she has been speaking Tswana fluently since she the age of three years old. Her younger brother, Pieter (6) has been speaking Tswana since he was five while their baby sister Ilne (4) understand the language but does not speak it fluently yet.

“My children don’t see colour. I feel all South Africans need exposure to one or more languages. It might not solve all our country’s problems but it can make things a little bit easier,” said Rika.

Rika is fluent in Xhosa and speaks a little bit of Zulu, while her father is also fluent in Sotho.

Pieter and Rika Ernst, the children’s parents were overwhelmed by the attention that the video has gained. Although they were initially nervous about it, they have since accepted it.

“I believe that God protects us and that he has willed it to be so,” said Rika.