Jump to content

Use of Official Languages Act, 2012

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Use of Official Languages Act, 2012
Parliament of South Africa
  • Act to provide for the regulation and monitoring of the use of official languages by national government for government purposes; to require the adoption of a language policy by a national department, national public entity and national public enterprise; to provide for the establishment and functions of a National Language Unit; to provide for the establishment and functions of language units by a national department, national public entity and national public enterprise; to provide for monitoring of and reporting on use of official languages by national government; to facilitate intergovernmental coordination of language units; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
CitationAct No. 12 of 2012
Enacted byParliament of South Africa
Assented to2012-10-02
Commenced2013-05-02
Legislative history
Bill titleUse of Official Languages Bill
Bill citationB23—2011
Status: In force

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 governs the regulation and monitoring of official languages in South Africa.

History

[edit]

The act was commenced on 2 May 2013.[1]

Provisions

[edit]

The legislation lacks "instructive standards" of its own to guide policy making relating to official languages.[2]

The act requires the development of a language policy by agencies such as a "national department, national public entity and national enterprise".[3] The act also requires the establishment of a National Languages Unit within the government.[3]

The act requires that the government use at least three languages for the purposes of government, compared to the constitution, which only requires that the government use at least two languages for the purposes of government.[4] The act specifically requires the accommodation of people who choose South African Sign Language.[4] The legislation requires that all official languages be treated with an equal "parity of esteem".[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lekgotla, Neo (6 February 2015). "The African vision has lost its focus". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  2. ^ Pretorius, J. L. (April 2013). "The Use of Official Languages Act: diversity affirmed?". Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal. 16 (1): 00–00. ISSN 1727-3781.
  3. ^ a b Mnguni, Aaron (20 January 2021). "Dreams and Realities for South Africa: Use of Official Languages Act, 2012". Studies in Media and Communication. 9 (1): 1. doi:10.11114/smc.v9i1.5104. ISSN 2325-808X.
  4. ^ a b du Plessis, Theo (23 May 2023). "Sign language is set to become South Africa's 12th official language after a long fight for recognition". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  5. ^ Ralarala, M.K. (1 October 2019). "Policy analysis as "text" in higher education: Challenging South Africa's "use of official languages act": A case-based approach". South African Journal of Higher Education. 33 (4). doi:10.20853/33-4-3030.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Use_of_Official_Languages_Act,_2012&oldid=1289342262"