SOUTH AFRICAN LANGUAGE PRACTITIONERS’ COUNCIL ACT IN FORCE

SOUTH AFRICAN LANGUAGE PRACTITIONERS’ COUNCIL ACT IN FORCE

• 29 August 2025
• New Legislation
• SA Legal Academy

According to a recently gazetted presidential proclamation, the 2014 South African Language Practitioners’ Council Act is now in effect, formally establishing the Council as a juristic person – in keeping with the requirements of the 2013 National Language Policy Framework, as well as constitutional obligations concerning multilingualism. According to a memorandum on the objects of the 2013 Bill concerned, this is noting:

• that all South Africans have the right to use the official languages of their choice ‘within the range of contexts contemplated in the … 2012 Use of Official Languages Act’, thus
• facilitating equal access to information, knowledge, education and also to government services and programmes.

The Use of Official Languages Act came into force in May 2013.

The new Council is mandated to:

• regulate language practice
• control the accreditation and registration of language practitioners
• develop rules for governing the conduct of language practitioners, and
• develop procedures for ensuring monitoring and compliance.

It is not clear why the authorities concerned have taken nearly 11 years to operationalise the Act.

• South African Language Practitioners’ Council Act
• presidential proclamation
• Use of Official Languages Act

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

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