The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), in collaboration with the Walter Sisulu University, will on Thursday, 26 March 2026, conduct a Linguistic Human Rights Public Lecture at the Great Hall, Zamukulungisa Site, Mthatha Campus, Walter Sisulu University. The Chief Justice of South Africa, Justice Mandisa Maya, will deliver the lecture under the theme “Language Rights as a means to accessing Justice: Understanding court proceedings including judgements in your own language”.
This forms part of PanSALB’s Linguistic Human Rights campaign which seeks to raise public awareness about language rights, promote effective multilingualism, and advance the use of all official languages, with specific focus in the justice system of the country. The event aligns with Human Rights Month observances in March and aims to educate South Africans on their linguistic rights as enshrined in the Constitution. PanSALB argues that it is the duty of the government to educate its citizens on their rights, hence this engagement.
The lecture will be followed by panel discussions which will focus on challenges within South Africa’s justice system, including the shortage and capacity of court interpreters, persistent language barriers in legal proceedings, and the dominance of English in courts despite constitutional commitments to multilingualism. Discussions are expected to highlight the urgent need for greater progress in aligning and implementing language policies, particularly to elevate African indigenous languages use as a constitutional human right to ensure equitable access to justice.
“African indigenous languages remain marginalised in the courts of this country and in government in general. They are only catered for through interpreting which is the case in any situation where any other language beside English is used in the court. The recent case where a legal practitioner was charged with misconduct for using isiXhosa in the courtroom in Whittlesea, Eastern Cape, in a country where isiXhosa is an official language, was unfortunate. The language of record in South African courts is English, it is used even in instances where the entire court personnel, including the aggrieved and the alleged perpetrator, share an African language, making mockery of African official languages and the interpreting profession” said the Acting Chief Executive Officer of PanSALB, Mr Julius Dantile.
“South Africa’s Constitution recognizes 12 official languages and mandates the promotion and protection of multilingualism, linguistic diversity, and language rights. Therefore, it is important that the justice system reflects this constitutional reality” he added.
The Public Lecture and panel discussion will serve as a vital platform to discuss how language rights can be more effectively integrated into the judicial system. The lecture represents a meaningful step toward addressing linguistic barriers in South Africa’s courts and underscores the importance of treating language rights as fundamental human rights. “This initiative reaffirms our commitment to ensuring all South Africans can access basic legal rights as guaranteed in the Constitution, which forms the cornerstone of our democracy,” concluded Mr Dantile.
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.
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Released on behalf of PanSALB: Ntombentle Huluhulu
Head: Marketing and Communication
Mobile: 061 581 5216
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