The ‘Use of Official Languages Act’ has been awaited with both excitement and trepidation by many sectors of both South Africa’s private and government business landscape.
Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, has extended the final compliance date for new official language policy to 2 May 2015.
This extension has been based on three conditions, including that a status report on progress with regard to the implementation of the Use of Official Languages Act is received by 30 January 2015. This leaves little time for business that have been dragging their feet with regards to implementation.
All drafted language policies have to be appropriate to the context and operations of national departments, national public entities and national public enterprises are to be published in the Government Gazette for public comment by 31 March 2015.
All language policies have to be adopted by the 2nd May 2015.
The Department of Arts and Culture has stated that:
‘If each of these conditions is not met, the exemption will be revoked on a case by case basis.’
Bangula recently explored the act in more depth in two articles listed here:
The Use of Official Languages Act – changing the face of South African business.
Exploring the “Use of Official Languages Act” in South Africa.
Bangula has also been a significant contributor in helping private and government institutions comply with the act. Please contact us today for expert translation advice.