In the Sunday Times, Chris Barron interviewed Stellenbosch University rector Wim de Villiers about the university's dual language policy. De Villiers pointed out that "there's a constitutional right to be instructed in your language of preference, but we can't use language as a basis of exclusion".Some black students contend they can not understand lectures in Afrikaans.But students who decide to enrol at universities where Afrikaans is the language of instruction do so expressly aware of the need for proficiency in that language.It takes some effort to become fluent, but doing so creates respect and understanding among students of diverse backgroundsMultilingualism is an important component in achieving higher education transformation.But it does not mean that Afrikaans should be eradicated as a language of instruction. Afrikaans is an integral part of the country's heritage, despite efforts to marginalise the Afrikaner identity.The country's interests are not served by attempts to eradicate Afrikaans as a language of instruction based on misguided ideas of racism, or on considerations of entitlement. Born-frees need a reality check...