Media Alert: MEC to Launch Western Cape Language Policy

In a first for South Africa, the Western Cape MEC for Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Mr Zandisile Chris Stali, in collaboration with the Western Cape Language Committee will be launching the Western Cape Language Policy at an event to be held at the BoE Conference Centre, Waterfront on 21 February 2005. Members of the Western Cape Cabinet, including the premier, Mr Ebrahim Rasool, representatives of local government, high-ranking officials and individuals representing various language institutions and organisations, will attend the event.

The Western Cape Cabinet officially approved the Provincial Language Policy last year. With its adoption in the tenth year of democracy the Western Cape will be taking the lead in ensuring the linguistic rights of its citizens in that it will be the first province in the Republic to adopt a language policy. The policy is the result of a five-year consultation process by the Western Cape Language Committee including a thorough audit of language use and preferences in the provincial government and a costing exercise to ascertain the most effective and efficient way to implement the policy.

It is envisaged that the implementation of the Language Policy will give further expression to the creation of a Home for All in the Western Cape by ensuring the equal status and use of the three official languages - Afrikaans, English and Xhosa - as well as making provision for the development and promotion of other national official languages, South African Sign Language and the Khoe and San languages.

Over and above the speeches by amongst others the Premier of the Western Cape, Mr Ebrahim Rasool, Minister Zandisile Chris Stali and the Chairperson of the Language Committee, Ms Alet van Huyssteen, aimed at highlighting different aspects of the language policy, there will also be song and poetry performances in the three official languages of the province.

Details are attached in the invitation.

Enquiries: Mr Mandla Yeki
Tel: 021 483 9804
Mobile: 082 5533 477
E-mail: myeki@pgwc.gov.za