This paper gives an overview of the development of Arabic and Urdu in South Africa up to 1984 when Indian languages as a school subject were introduced from standards two to ten. It sketches the state of Indian languages at ·the various universities in the country and proceeds to place these languages in an international perspective. From the article it becomes clear that Arabic cannot be ignored by any scholar who seriously intends to probe the problems of our times. In the last instance, the article focuses on South Africa again, where Urdu, in particular, is flourishing, and where several poets have earned widespread acclaim. It concludes that the future of Urdu in this country has never been brighter. Met hierdie artikel word 'n oorsig gegee oor die ontwikkeling van Arabies en Urdu in Suid-Afrika, tot en met die instelling in 1984 van Indiese tale as skoolvak vanaf standerd twee tot matriek. Die stand van hierdie tale aan verskeie plaaslike universiteite word geskets en daarna word die lndiese tale binne 'n internasionale perspektief geplaas. Die artikel stel dit dat 'n kennis van Arabies onontbeerlik is vir enige geleerde wat werklik die probleme van ons tyd wil deurvors. In laaste instansie keer die perspektief terug na SuidAfrika, waar vera! Urdu sterk groei en waar verskeie digters wye erkenning geniet. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die toekoms van Urdu hi er te lande nog nooit beter was nie.