Die strafrekord is beskikbaar, behalwe dat die agtergrondondersoek duur.

to be

Breakdown of Die strafrekord is beskikbaar, behalwe dat die agtergrondondersoek duur.

• beskikbaar: available
• duur: to last; continue for a period
• behalwe dat ...: except that; besides the fact that

Questions & Answers about Die strafrekord is beskikbaar, behalwe dat die agtergrondondersoek duur.

What does behalwe dat mean here?

behalwe dat means except that or except for the fact that. It introduces a clause that limits or qualifies the statement before it.

So the structure is:

• main statement: Die strafrekord is beskikbaar
• qualification: behalwe dat ...

Afrikaans also uses plain behalwe in other patterns, but behalwe dat is specifically used before a full clause.

Why is strafrekord written as one word?

Afrikaans very often forms compound nouns as a single word.

So:

• straf = punishment / criminal
• rekord = record

Together, strafrekord is one compound noun. This is very normal in Afrikaans. English often writes similar ideas as two words, but Afrikaans usually joins them.

Why is there die before both nouns?