[lg policy] South Africa: Department of Public Service proposes its three official languages

[Harold Schiffman]

Department of Public Service proposes its three official languages
Nomahlubi Jordaan | 28 September, 2016 12:12
Pan African South African Languages Board chief executive Dr Mpho Monareng
said the language policy was important in the promotion and advancement of
South African languages‚ but could be “reckless” if the process was not
coordinated properly. File photo
*Image by:* Circa
The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) wants to conduct
its business in three languages - IsiZulu‚ English and Setswana.




Concerns have been raised that the move – contained in the department’s
draft language policy‚ which is open for public scrutiny and comment - will
leave other languages out in the cold.
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Pan African South African Languages Board chief executive Dr Mpho Monareng
said the language policy was important in the promotion and advancement of
South African languages‚ but could be “reckless” if the process was not
coordinated properly.

“It’s a good idea‚ but you need a plan to ensure that all languages are
represented well. It might not be sensible to give traction to certain
languages‚” said Monareng.

“My worry is languages like XiTsonga and XiVenda will suffer because they
are not popular.”

Afriforum deputy chief executive Alana Bailey said choosing all 11 official
languages would have been the best option for the DPSA.

“Some departments‚ such as justice‚ use a very fair and sensible approach
by using all languages …. in a key department such as public service‚ this
would have been the best option‚” said Bailey.

The DPSA is proposing to use IsiZulu‚ English and Setswana - on request -
to communicate with government departments‚ members of the public and on
official forms. English will be the medium of communication within the
department.

DPSA spokesman Dumisani Nkwamba said the policy was still subject to public
comment: “This is a draft policy and members of the public have 30 days to
make submissions on it.

“We are going to study the submissions and the DG (director-general) will
make a decision.”

Nkwamba said the department could add more languages to the policy‚
depending on public feedback.

He said the policy was drawn up in response to a directive from the
Department of Arts and Culture‚ which is the custodian of the Use of
Languages Act of 2012.

According to the act‚ “every department‚ national public entity and
national enterprise must adopt a language policy on its use of official
languages”.

If the proposed three languages are adopted‚ any member of the public
needing to communicate with the department in a different tongue will have
to put in a written request‚ which will be considered within 30 days.

The same would apply to a person who wanted to communicate with the
department in sign language.'

http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2016/09/28/Department-of-Public-Service-proposes-its-three-official-languages


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