Proposed changes to Language Bill a victory for common sense

The amendment yesterday to the Use of Official Languages Bill proposed by the Department of Arts and Culture constitutes a victory for common sense. It vindicates the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) firmly held view that we must promote and protect all of South Africa's official languages.

If we are to become one nation, with one future, we cannot arbitrarily discriminate against any official language. As our Constitution says: "South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity."

Last week, ANC members of Parliament's Arts and Culture Portfolio Committee voted against a DA proposal which sought to revise a clause requiring government departments to use at least three languages for official communication purposes, with two of these being "indigenous languages of historically diminished use and status."

We argued that this clause is problematic because it did not give due consideration to the regional relevance of languages. We argued that the limited choice provided to provinces could undermine section 6(4)(2) of the Constitution, which stipulates that "all official languages must enjoy parity of esteem and must be treated equitably."

The Department of Arts and Culture has now proposed an amendment to this clause which is less prescriptive about the choice of the three languages to be used. 

The proposed change is welcomed for three reasons. 

Firstly, it levels the playing field for all South African languages and satisfies the constitutional requirement of equitability. Secondly, it allows departments in various regions more leeway to choose those languages that are most widely used in their area. Thirdly, it prevents a situation where languages could be arbitrarily discriminated against. 

We therefore welcome the Department of Arts and Culture's proposed change to the Bill. The DA will continue to be vigilant in the protection and promotion of all our official languages and the contribution that this makes to the promotion of diversity in South Africa. 

Statement issued by Niekie van den Berg MP, DA Shadow Minister of Arts & Culture, March 8 2012

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