Renamed Bill not aimed at Afrikaans

1 Mar 2012

As Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture adopted final amendments to the Use of Official Languages Bill (initially called the SA Languages Bill), the Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Thandi Sunduza referred to a growing perception that the legislation sought to 'kill' the Afrikaans language.

'I think a wrong perception is being created that this Bill is (aimed at) Afrikaans. It is incorrect to send such a message to the public, that would be unconstitutional and contrary to nation-building,' she said.

Ms Sunduza's remarks were in response to the Bill's requirement for government departments and State organs to use a minimum of three official languages, of which two had to be previously disadvantaged languages. Some committee members said this meant the automatic removal of Afrikaans from use in government.

'Let us remove the whole fear that the idea is to kill Afrikaans, the Bill is not intended to kill Afrikaans. It's a wrong perception that the Bill will destroy Afrikaans,' she said.

Once passed into law, the Use of Official Languages Bill will compel all departments and State organs to use 'at least three official languages', two of which had to be indigenous languages of historically-diminished use and status.

Some Committee members argued that this would put Afrikaans at a disadvantage as it was not considered a previously disadvantaged language. They argued for the Bill to be amended to stipulate a minimum of four languages for use by government.

'It would be foolhardy to suggest that people are going to drop some languages and throw documents away. The Bill is not limiting the use of or excluding any languages,' said Mr Sibusiso Xaba, Director-General of the Department of Arts and Culture.

Statement issued by Parliament of South Africa, March 1 2012

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