17 May 2023
Members of the media are invited to a press conference called by the CRL Rights Commission to present its investigative report on the marginalised languages and the need for them to be accordingly elevated.
The Commission has concluded its investigative hearings on the treatment of the official languages in South Africa. These hearings had to investigate the use and status of the indigenous languages by government departments and other organs of state; ascertain the measures (if any) that are in place to advance the equal treatment of all the South African official languages; assess the current efforts and future plans being followed by departments and other organs of state to regulate, monitor and elevate the use of all the official languages among other things for teaching, research, science, technology, commerce as well as to be languages of record.
Since the dawn of democracy in 1994 many communities had their hopes raised in that their cultures and languages won’t be subjected to unequal treatment or marginalisation but would be afforded equal status and treatment. Notably, it has been the expectation from the public and in line with section 6(1) of the South African Constitution, 1996 which affirms that these languages should be given their due and constitutional status. Accordingly, these are the languages: Sesotho, Sepedi, Setswana, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, siSwati, Tshivenda, isiNdebele, Xitsonga, English, and isiZulu.
The report will also provide highlights whether as South African we have moved or regressed from realising the aspirations expressed in the Constitution when it states that languages should play an important role in nation building, social cohesion and the coexistence of communities.
Date: 23 May 2023
Venue: CRL Rights Commission, Braampark, Forum IV, Braamfontein
Time: 10h00. (Members of the media are requested to try to set up from 09h30)
Issued by the CRL Rights Commission
For inquiries contact:
Mpiyakhe Mkholo – Mpiyakhem@www.crlcommission.org.za -0836594974
Beverley Mukhavhuli – beverley@www.crlcommission.org.za-0662826067
011 358 9100