Die probleem ontstaan wanneer die ritssluiter stukkend is.

Because wanneer introduces a subordinate clause.

In Afrikaans, a subordinate clause normally sends the finite verb to the end:

• wanneer die ritssluiter stukkend is

That is one of the most important word-order patterns to learn.

You can compare:

• Main clause: Die ritssluiter is stukkend.
• Subordinate clause: wanneer die ritssluiter stukkend is

If you put the wanneer-clause first, you get:

• Wanneer die ritssluiter stukkend is, ontstaan die probleem.

Notice that the verb in the main clause then comes before the subject: ontstaan die probleem.

Because die is the definite article in Afrikaans, meaning the.

Afrikaans does not change the definite article for gender, and it also uses die for both singular and plural definite nouns.

So here:

• die probleem = the problem
• die ritssluiter = the zipper

This is much simpler than languages that have different words for masculine, feminine, or plural nouns.

Ontstaan means something like:

• arise
• come about
• occur
• come into being

In this sentence, Die probleem ontstaan means the problem arises or the problem comes up.

It is a useful verb for talking about situations, difficulties, conflicts, or conditions beginning.

No. Afrikaans verbs usually do not change form according to the subject in the present tense.

So unlike English:

• I arise
• he arises

Afrikaans keeps the same verb form:

• die probleem ontstaan
• probleme ontstaan

There is no extra -s ending like in English arises.

Because stukkend is being used after the verb is.

In Afrikaans, adjectives often have:

• a plain form after a linking verb such as is
• an -e form before a noun

So:

• die ritssluiter is stukkend = the zipper is broken
• die stukkende ritssluiter = the broken zipper

That difference is very common in Afrikaans.

Sometimes, but stukkend is more natural here.

• stukkend usually means broken / not working / damaged
• gebreek often suggests something has been physically broken, snapped, or fractured

For a zipper that does not work properly, stukkend is the most natural everyday choice.

So:

• die ritssluiter is stukkend = very natural
• die ritssluiter is gebreek = possible in some contexts, but less general

Ritssluiter means zipper.

It is a compound noun. Afrikaans often forms long nouns by combining smaller parts.

You will also hear:

• rits = zip / zipper

In everyday speech, many speakers would simply say rits.

So both of these can work depending on style and context:

• die ritssluiter is stukkend
• die rits is stukkend

Because it is a compound made from:

• rits
• sluiter

When those parts join, the spelling keeps the sounds from both parts, which gives ritssluiter.

Compound spelling is very common in Afrikaans, and it often looks long to English speakers at first.

It can mean either, depending on context.

In this sentence, it has a general meaning, so English could understand it as:

• when
• whenever

The sentence sounds like a general truth: the problem arises whenever the zipper is broken.

If you are talking about one specific past event, Afrikaans often uses toe instead:

• Die probleem het ontstaan toe die ritssluiter stukkend was.

Yes.

You can move the wanneer-clause to the front:

• Wanneer die ritssluiter stukkend is, ontstaan die probleem.

That is still correct Afrikaans.

The important thing to notice is this:

1. In the subordinate clause, the verb stays at the end: stukkend is
2. After the fronted clause, the main clause follows normal Afrikaans verb-second behavior: ontstaan die probleem

So the word order changes, but the meaning stays the same.

A natural past-tense version would be:

• Die probleem het ontstaan toe die ritssluiter stukkend was.

Two important things are happening here:

• ontstaan becomes het ontstaan
• is becomes was

Also, notice that it is het ontstaan, not geontstaan.

That is because verbs with inseparable prefixes like ont- normally do not take ge- in the past participle.