Ohloniphekile uSomlomo, nesekela lakhe,
Honourable Ministers here present,
Honourable Members
Manene nani Manenekazi.
On the 7th of August last year, I stood before this House to table for consideration the Use of Official Languages Bill. On that day we said we were taking a major step in promoting multilingualism in our country.
We also said we were strengthening our efforts to build a South Africa that truly belongs to all who live in it; black and white united in our diversity.
Today, Honourable Members, as I table the Language Practitioners’ Council Bill, I do so in order to take forward the work we are doing to promote the wide spread use of all official languages. Once again we are delighted that the Bill we are tabling is a product of popular participation and broad consensus among various stakeholders.
By tabling this Bill we are, as directed by the Constitution of our country, taking another forward step in ensuring that all our languages enjoy parity of esteem. Hi tlhela hi xixima no sirhelela timfanelo ta ma Afrika Dzonga ta ririmi.
In particular through the Bill we are ensuring that there is proper regulation of the language profession and thus addressing some of the challenges it faces. The challenges include the vulnerability to exploitation of many language practitioners, the lack of clear and predictable standards for the language profession and lack of protection for members of the public who may be prejudiced by the services rendered by language practitioners.
In addressing these challenges the Bill provides for the establishment of the South African Language Practitioners’ Council. It sets out the objectives, powers, duties and functions of the Council. Critically the Bill seeks to regulate the training of language practitioners and provide for the control of their accreditation and registration.
The Bill also proposes that the South African Language Practitioners’ Council acts as an advisory body to the Minister of Arts and Culture on issues affecting the language profession. The Council is also expected to prescribe the rules governing the conduct of language professionals and the procedures for compliance, monitoring and enforcement.
We are also proposing that the Council provides and encourages the provision of opportunities for South Africans, especially from disadvantaged communities, to enter the language profession and practice as language practitioners.
Honourable Members, we are confident that the measures we are proposing in the Bill will go a long way in elevating the status of the language profession; ensuring that it is properly regulated and that it contributes meaningfully to language preservation and development.
Following this Bill we are likely to see more South Africans pursuing careers in the language profession, not only as an academic pursuit but also as a means towards promoting unity in diversity.
Hinkwaswo leswi swi twala kahle hi vumundzuku bya tindzimi etikweni ra hina. Honourable Members, we are doing all of these things inspired, among others, by the words of the founding father of our democratic nation; Tata Nelson Mandela, who once wrote: “Without language one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry or savour their songs.”
Let us continue to preserve and develop our languages because it is only through language that we can reach out to one another and embrace each other’s diversity.
Mohlomphehi Speaker, ke motlotlo ho o tekala Bili ya Lekgotla la Basebeletsi ba Puo hore e amohelwe Ntlong ena.
Thank you!
