The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) is calling upon the President of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, to officially declare 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL) during his State of the Nation Address on 07 February 2019.

The call was made by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of PanSALB, Ms Angelina Netshiheni during the official launch of the IYIL which took place at the Didima Rock Site Resort in uKhahlamba, KwaZulu-Natal on 30 January 2019.

On 19 December 2016 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2019 as the IYIL as per resolution of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Resolution 71/178). The General Assembly resolution requested UNESCO as the lead UN agency to coordinate activities of the year. read more