The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) welcomes the addition of isiZulu by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in her address to the nation during the National Command Council media briefing held yesterday, 16 April 2020.
“We are very pleased that Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has heeded the call to address South Africans in languages they understand. The addition of indigenous languages during media briefings will certainly expand the reach of government’s communication to many linguistic communities and will have a positive impact in the responsiveness of people to government messages” said PanSALB Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bongumenzi Mpungose.
PanSALB also notes that COGTA and the Department of Justice have made a concerted effort to ensure that the regulations are translated into different languages, through consultations with PanSALB. These efforts will ensure that all South Africans can fully articulate the conditions of the lockdown.
“The National Command Council is made up of speakers of different indigenous languages. Therefore, PanSALB wishes to make a call to other members of the NCC to follow in the footsteps of Minister Dlamini-Zuma by unpacking their briefings into the different indigenous languages. This is a practical and efficient way to ensure that more language users are reached” he added.