to use indigenous languages in court
4 March 2009
The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) would like to make it known
that it fully recognises, appreciates and supports the Department of Justice in
its efforts to transform South African courts by recognising the need to hear
cases in indigenous languages, after the Zwelitsha Magistrate's Court in
Eastern Cape started hearing all its cases in Xhosa this week.
"The status quo creates an environment in which indigenous languages
continue to be squeezed to the periphery in the courts and we cannot maintain a
situation in which the majority of citizens are made to leave their
Constitutionally enshrined rights to access justice and information in their
own languages at the gates of the Courts, which seems to perpetuate the
historical supremacy of English and Afrikaans," said Mr Chris Swepu, Acting CEO
of PanSALB.
PanSALB is of the opinion that this holistic view of using indigenous
languages in our Courts would make it easy for millions of people to have
access to the justice system and cut the court backlogs by half as most time is
spent on translating which is sometimes not trustworthy.
A letter of appreciation has already been sent to the Department of Justice
to support and request that this project be spread around the country without
delay. This should also take into consideration the Sign, Khoi, San and Nama
languages.
PanSALB see this project as a challenge to other government structures that
are lacking behind in making service delivery accessible in all the official
languages.
"A decade into our constitutional democracy, we have to constantly and
collectively create a cultural space that is South African. We must take and
give from each other on the basis of equality, otherwise certain languages will
remain dominant and privileged at the expense of others," added Swepu.
Enquiries:
Sibusiso Nkosi
Senior Manager: Communication and Marketing
Tel: 012 341 9638
Cell: 082 855 4436
Issued by: Pan South African Language Board
4 March 2009
