Department of Arts and Culture
The South African Languages Bill has been introduced in the National Assembly.
Once promulgated, amongst other things it will make provision for establishing a national language unit and determine its functions.
According to the objects of the bill, it also seeks to provide for:
• the regulation and monitoring of the use of South Africa’s official languages by national government for government purposes;
• the adoption of language policies by national departments, national public entities and national public enterprises;
• the establishment and functions of language units by national departments, national public entities and national public enterprises;
• the monitoring of and reporting on official language use by national government; and for
• mechanisms to facilitate inter-governmental coordination of language policies.
It is envisaged that, inter alia, the functions of the national language unit will include advising the minister of arts and culture on:
• policy and strategy;
• promoting all official languages so that “they enjoy parity of esteem and equitable treatment” by national government;
• facilitating equitable public access to services rendered and information produced by a national department, national public entity or national public enterprise; and
• promoting good language management within a national department, national public entity or national public enterprise.
In terms of the bill, the national language unit will be required to request national departments, national public entities and national public enterprises to submit annual reports on:
• the activities of their language units;
• implementing South Africa’s language policy;
• any complaints received regarding the use of official languages; and
• the manner in which the complaints were handled.
Sabinet Cape Town Office
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