PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
08 MAY 2021, PRETORIA
PAN SOUTH AFRICAN LANGUAGE BOARD ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD CHAIRPERSON AND DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION
The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) has today announced the appointment of the Board’s new Chairperson, Mr Ntshengedzeni Edward Mudau and Deputy Chairperson, Mrs Preetha Dabideen. The announcement comes after an elective Board meeting held on 07 May 2021, at the OR Tambo Protea Hotel, Johannesburg.
The elections were observed by PanSALB Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Xolisa Tshongolo to ensure that the process is free and fair. The elections came on the eve of the 25th Anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic by the Constitutional Assembly on 08 May 1996. PanSALB hopes that this coincidence symbolizes a new transformational era where the realization of constitutional values of equality, inclusivity and non-racialism through entrenchment of multilingualism and linguistic human rights is not an exception but order of the day.
“PanSALB welcomes the appointment of Mr Mudau as Board Chairperson and the re-election of Mrs Preetha Dabideen as Deputy Chairperson” said Mr Tshongolo. “The 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution must serve as a reminder of our shared past and the commitment made by the founders of our democracy to the values of inclusion, equality and freedom. Chapter 1 of the Constitution makes provisions for the furtherance of multilingualism, which forms part of the pillars of our democracy that plays a critical role in promoting social cohesion and nation-building. We have no doubt of the commitment by the newly elected Board leadership towards the attainment of this Constitutional ideal” he added.
