Good morning, goeie môre, molweni
Language plays an important role in the lives of any community. It brings about a social cohesion, a sense of belonging and unity. But in the past, ladies and gentlemen, our mother tongues were the very tools the oppressive former government used to ensure that we were marginalised.
In die lig van hierdie agtergrond en in die gees van die bevordering van al drie amptelike tale van die Wes-Kaapse regering, het die Wes-Kaapse Taalkomitee hierdie taalbeleid saamgestel.
This policy ladies and gentlemen, aims to promote the use of Afrikaans, IsiXhosa and English, and elevate the status and advance of the use of these languages, as indigenous languages of historically diminished status, which was used by the people of the Western Cape such as the Khoi and the San.
Through the promotion of multilingualism, we want to support the Batho Pele initiative of impartial service delivery by the promotion of equal access to public services and programmes removing language and communication barriers.
Through this we can further, as the Western Cape government, eradicate the serious marginalisation of IsiXhosa within the public service by resourcing and promoting the development and awareness of its official status.
Dames en here, kommunikasie met en binne die staatsdiens is van die grootste belang ten einde te verseker dat die nasionale regering se aanvanklike inisiatief verwesenlik word.
This will further ensure that members of the public can, at any time, use any of the three official languages to communicate with government, both at a local and provincial level.
In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, I want to remind you that this is the only provincial government, nationally, which has an established language policy, to better ensure that the people of this province receive the necessary service which they deserve, a service which comes with dignity and honour.
Siyiqalile, masiyiqhube, siyigqibe
Thank you, baie dankie, enkosi.
