Loyal viewers sidelined without warning
Afrikaans-speaking cricket enthusiasts have been left without any commentary in their language during the current New Zealand tour, prompting sharp criticism over what has been described as a unilateral decision taken without consulting viewers or interest groups.
The controversy centres on SuperSport's move to offer only English-language commentary for matches on the tour — a decision that emerged without prior public notice. An open letter penned by Jordaan has brought the matter into the spotlight, questioning whether the broadcaster still values its Afrikaans-speaking audience or whether this historically loyal market segment is being progressively marginalised.
The timing of the decision has drawn particular scrutiny given Canal+'s takeover of MultiChoice. The French media conglomerate's leadership, including local executives, had publicly signalled a firm commitment to investing in local content and cultivating deeper ties with South African audiences. Jordaan argues this makes the removal of Afrikaans commentary all the more difficult to reconcile with the stated strategic direction.
"I would like to remind you that already in 2017, after being confronted about the downscaling of Afrikaans cricket commentary, SuperSport undertook to address it. Yet now we are again in a situation where Afrikaans is abolished in 2026. This applies not only to the New Zealand tour, but also to local KSA tournaments in the 20 and 50 over formats where only English is deemed necessary."
A pattern of relegation
The issue extends well beyond the current tour. Jordaan's letter highlights a broader pattern in which Afrikaans commentary has been treated as inferior to its English and Xhosa equivalents. During the recent SA20 series and preceding cricket tournaments, Afrikaans commentators were seldom — if ever — stationed on the field of play to deliver the kind of immersive, close-range analysis their counterparts in other languages provided.
"To disrespect the Afrikaans viewing community in such a way with an offer that essentially takes on a second-rate character actually comments on SuperSport's attitude towards its Afrikaans viewers."
Several pointed questions have been raised in the letter, including what MultiChoice's own viewership data reveals about language preferences and who bears responsibility for the decision to axe Afrikaans commentary entirely. The complete absence of an Afrikaans option for the New Zealand tour, Jordaan contends, sends a clear message that the language is no longer regarded as an integral part of the SuperSport offering.
Canal+ has repeatedly maintained that the future of pay television hinges on robust local content, local languages and devoted local audiences. Jordaan argues that Afrikaans content represents precisely this kind of audience — stable, fiercely loyal and prepared to pay for quality programming. Dismantling their commentary option therefore appears to contradict the very strategy the new ownership has championed.
"The question is whether MultiChoice and SuperSport are still prepared to take the interests of Afrikaans speakers to heart in return. They are also loyal viewers who have supported the platform over the years and deserve at least the respect of an honest answer."
The letter demands transparency from the broadcaster and poses a fundamental question about whether commercial imperatives are being allowed to erode the linguistic diversity that once defined South African sports broadcasting. For now, Afrikaans-speaking cricket fans remain without a voice in their own language — and without any indication of when, or whether, that will change.
