University students are saying hamba kahle (farewell) to South Africa's indigenous tongues as they turn their backs on studying African languages. Language experts said this week that they feared for the future of the nine official African languages as English became the language of technology, commerce and government. "Indigenous languages are under siege. Parents in townships equate education with competency in English," said Professor Mohlomi Moleleki, chairman of the Pan South African Language Board and head of African languages at the University of the Free State.