Use of Official Languages Act, 2012

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 governs the regulation and monitoring of official languages in South Africa.

Use of Official Languages Act, 2012
Parliament of South Africa
Long title Act to provide for the regulation and monitoring of the use of official languages by national government for government purposes; to require the adoption of a language policy by a national department, national public entity and national public enterprise; to provide for the establishment and functions of a National Language Unit; to provide for the establishment and functions of language units by a national department, national public entity and national public enterprise; to provide for monitoring of and reporting on use of official languages by national government; to facilitate intergovernmental coordination of language units; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Citation	Act No. 12 of 2012
Enacted by	Parliament of South Africa
Assented to	2012-10-02
Commenced	2013-05-02
Legislative history
Bill title	Use of Official Languages Bill
Bill citation	B23—2011
Status: In force

History

The act was commenced on 2 May 2013.^[1]

Provisions

The legislation lacks "instructive standards" of its own to guide policy making relating to official languages.^[2]

The act requires the development of a language policy by agencies such as a "national department, national public entity and national enterprise".^[3] The act also requires the establishment of a National Languages Unit within the government.^[3]

The act requires that the government use at least three languages for the purposes of government, compared to the constitution, which only requires that the government use at least two languages for the purposes of government.^[4] The act specifically requires the accommodation of people who choose South African Sign Language.^[4] The legislation requires that all official languages be treated with an equal "parity of esteem".^[5]