The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) will, on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, join the country in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Youth Uprising, now declared National Youth Day. The commemoration is organised under the theme “Reset@50 – The Future Calls”.
As the constitutional body mandated to create conditions for the recognition, implementation, and furtherance of multilingualism, the PanSALB believes in paying homage to tutelage sacrifices, the bravery of students who fought for education, and social justice. The commemoration continues to herald a move towards decolonising the linguistic minds of South African society, thus instilling a sense of purpose towards placing indigenous languages as mediums of value and cachet.
The 1976 students’ Youth Uprising commemoration serves as a reminder of the progress and achievement made thus far in the development of indigenous languages. Amongst other significant developments, this celebration continues to remind us of the lives lost in the fight for fundamental human rights.
“June 16 offers an opportunity for us to reflect on the vital role that language plays in advancing socioeconomic opportunities. We must commit ourselves to elevating the status of our languages so that they can function as mediums of communication in all spheres of society, including business, science, education, and the economy,” said the Chief Executive Officer of PanSALB, Dr Keaobaka Seshoka.
PanSALB urges all South Africans to remain vigilant and never lose sight of the sacrifices made to secure a constitutional and participatory democracy that recognises, protects, and promotes the language rights of all its citizens. We must each play our part as champions of societal multilingualism, fostering a society where linguistic diversity is valued as a national resource rather than a barrier. As a country rich in languages and cultures, we must remain steadfast in safeguarding the gains of our democracy and resist any attempts to undermine the principles of inclusion, equality, social cohesion and nation-building. South Africa is one nation with many languages. Let us embrace, celebrate, and advance this diversity for the benefit of present and future generations.
ABOUT PanSALB
The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) is a constitutional body mandated to create conditions for the recognition, implementation and furtherance of multilingualism in the Republic of South Africa, and the development of previously marginalised languages.
