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South African Languages Bill

Languages Bill to ‘improve access to services’

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:22

Paul Mashatile

Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile says the draft South African Languages Bill is not only intended to promote all the country’s official languages, but to improve access to services.

The Bill proposes that government departments use at least two languages to communicate with the public. Provinces would also be expected to choose languages that are dominant or mostly spoken to communicate with the public. This, in turn, would open up access to knowledge about services for many more people.

“… National departments [must] ensure access to services,” said Mashatile.

Mashatile believes that indigenous African languages should be among those used as official languages, and not just English and Afrikaans.

Addressing the National Press Club in Pretoria on Friday, Mashatile said there was a need to introduce the Bill to promote all the languages in SA, including sign language.

Although sign language is not an official language, Mashatile said government departments should use it to communicate with the public.

Earlier this month, the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture held public hearings on the proposed Languages Bill.

The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) -- which was established to promote and ensure respect for all languages commonly used by communities in South Africa -- also added its views on the draft legislation.

Mashatile said PanSALB would be expected to ensure that the general public knows about the Bill.

“Communities should have a right to complain to PanSALB if they feel that their language is not well represented,” Mashatile added.

In May 2004, PanSALB launched a campaign to raise public awareness of their right to be served in their own language at government institutions. - BuaNews