Arnoldus Pannevis

Arnoldus Pannevis (1838-1884). Dutch-born minister and teacher at the Paarl Gymnasium, academic and leading figure in the first language struggle.

Biography

Trained in literature and a Shakespeare specialist (according to Ludwige Binge the best Holland had produced prior to 1880), he became converted and entered the ministry??**. He settled in Paarl in 1865 and, because he saw the local version of Dutch as a vehicle by means he may bring the Bible to the Afrikaans-speaking settlers and workers, sought to have Afrikaans recognized as a written language, urged the creation of a literature for it and suggested it be accepted as official language. He became the spiritual father of S.J. Du Toit and of the First Afrikaans Language Movement.**