Department of Public Service proposes its three official languages

The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) wants to conduct its business in three languages - IsiZulu‚ English and Setswana.

Concerns have been raised that the move – contained in the department’s draft language policy‚ which is open for public scrutiny and comment - will leave other languages out in the cold.

Pan African South African Languages Board chief executive Dr Mpho Monareng said the language policy was important in the promotion and advancement of South African languages‚ but could be “reckless” if the process was not coordinated properly.

“It’s a good idea‚ but you need a plan to ensure that all languages are represented well. It might not be sensible to give traction to certain languages‚” said Monareng.

“My worry is languages like XiTsonga and XiVenda will suffer because they are not popular.”

Afriforum deputy chief executive Alana Bailey said choosing all 11 official languages would have been the best option for the DPSA.

“Some departments‚ such as justice‚ use a very fair and sensible approach by using all languages …. in a key department such as public service‚ this would have been the best option‚” said Bailey.

The DPSA is proposing to use IsiZulu‚ English and Setswana - on request - to communicate with government departments‚ members of the public and on official forms. English will be the medium of communication within the department.

DPSA spokesman Dumisani Nkwamba said the policy was still subject to public comment: “This is a draft policy and members of the public have 30 days to make submissions on it.

“We are going to study the submissions and the DG (director-general) will make a decision.”

Nkwamba said the department could add more languages to the policy‚ depending on public feedback.

He said the policy was drawn up in response to a directive from the Department of Arts and Culture‚ which is the custodian of the Use of Languages Act of 2012.

According to the act‚ “every department‚ national public entity and national enterprise must adopt a language policy on its use of official languages”.

If the proposed three languages are adopted‚ any member of the public needing to communicate with the department in a different tongue will have to put in a written request‚ which will be considered within 30 days.

The same would apply to a person who wanted to communicate with the department in sign language.

– TMG Digital