EC adopts 4 of SA’s languages

All state communication soon to be in Xhosa, Afrikaans, Sotho and English

FOR the first time in history, the Eastern Cape government will communicate in four official languages after the adoption of the Eastern Cape Use of Official Languages Bill of 2015 by the provincial legislature.

All government public notices, publications and interand intra-government communications will be in Xhosa, Afrikaans, Sotho and English.

The bill received the thumbs up from all political parties in Bhisho this week.

It all started back in 2013 when members approved a White Paper supporting Xhosa, Afrikaans, English and Sotho as the languages of choice to be used by provincial departments, parastatals and other entities.

Subsequent to the approval of the White Paper, the Eastern Cape Use of Official Languages Bill of 2015 was crafted and publicity campaigns conducted this year during which representatives of the portfolio committee on sport, recreation, arts and culture – with the help of the department’s legal unit officials – visited various parts of the province to educate the public about the contents of the bill.

These included Port Elizabeth, Cofimvaba, Queenstown, Matatiele, Mt Ayliff, Sterkspruit, East London, King William’s Town, Mthatha, Dutywa and Alice.

The bill is in line with the Constitution, which allows a provincial government to use any of the official languages for the purposes of government – but taking into account the “usage, practicality, expense, regional circumstances as well as the balance of the needs and preferences of the population as a whole in the province concerned”.

Tabling the bill for adoption, DSRAC MEC Pemmy Majodina said language was always at the core of self-determination.

“Language is central to our collective identity. The province has expressed its commitment to the promotion of language equity and language rights as required by law.

“The official languages of the province are isiXhosa, Afrikaans, English and Sesotho,” said Majodina.

Now that the bill has been adopted, a central provincial language unit will have to be established so that provincial departments, provincial public entities and provincial government business enterprises can adopt language policies in line with the official one.

DA chief whip Edmund van Vuuren said the party fully supported the bill. “The DA believes that to preserve our cultural heritage government must create an environment where multilingualism can thrive, is inclusive of everyone and is accessible to all,” said Van Vuuren.

He said it was equally important that government officials receive the necessary training to be proficient in these four languages.

“If the government is to implement the proposed language policy, particularly within the context of this province, they must ensure that officials are proficient in the languages which they will use to communicate and interact with the communities of this province.

“Government must take into consideration the needs of its people and be able to fulfil those needs by removing the current language barriers that exist,” Van Vuuren added.

ANC MPL Nomxolisi Mtitshana said for far too long Eastern Cape residents were forced to speak either English or Afrikaans, and it was time to correct that.

Mtitshana said it was equally important that the four languages were “not only used for official use purposes but [Majodina’s] department must also ensure that they are promoted and constantly developed and updated to keep up with changing world dynamics”.