Recognition of South African Sign Language as Official Language: consideration of DEAFSA submission
Joint Constitutional Review Committee
16 March 2007
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Meeting report
JOINT CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
16 March 2007
RECOGNITION OF SOUTH AFRICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: CONSIDERATION
OF DEAFSA SUBMISSION
Chairperson: Dr E Schoeman (ANC)
Documents handed out:
None
Audio
Recording of the Meeting
SUMMARY
The submission made by the Deaf Federation of South Africa (DEAFSA) on 16
February 2007 was discussed. The
Committee agreed that a formal resolution would be drafted for discussion at
the next meeting.
MINUTES
The Chairperson began by stating that the Committee received a submission
from DEAFSA on 16
February 2007 asking the Committee to assist with instituting sign language
as a twelfth official language. The
Chairperson stated that he had had a discussion with the Minister in the Office
of the Presidency as well as with the Minister of Arts and Culture. The DEAFSA
request was being handled accordingly, its merit was recognised as well as its
implications. The Minister of Arts and Culture suggested that the Pan South
African Language Board (PANSALB) has not been doing its work properly. The
Chairperson suggested that a task team perhaps be set up with the Ministries of
Arts and Culture, Justice and Constitutional Development and the Presidency, in
order to look into the matter.
Mr A Gaum (ANC) was of the view that a decision could be taken on that day. The
Committee could only note the request and that it has merit as well as
implications. There should be a process to further delve into the matter. He
reiterated that a decision could not be made at that time.
Mr F Beukman (ANC) agreed with Mr Gaum.
Mr C Burgess (ANC) felt there was much missing from the submission. The
statistics were not clear enough. There were several languages in South Africa
that were spoken by a number of people that were not considered amongst the
country’s official languages. He noted
that simply analysing the figures would not be fair, but that the matter required
further study.
The Chairperson commented that the matter had to be handled in a principled
manner, as from that point of view the Committee would adopt a moral stance to
hear the case and accommodate the needs of DEAFSA. However, if the Constitution was changed it might not translate
into practicality, and the current situation itself might in fact not
change. It would result in every deaf
person requiring a translator. This would not be seen as fruitful if it was
only changed in the Constitution. The
Committee should instead acknowledge the case and then accommodate the actual
need. It would have to be practical in order to be accommodated in the
Constitution.
Mr Gaum agreed with the Chairperson. Much of DEAFSA’s input was worthy of merit
and can be taken further. PANSALB however has not done so. He suggested that
PANSALB should be the champion of the interests of DEAFSA in this matter. He
felt that the Committee should communicate with PANSALB and request it to
consider DEAFSA’s request.
The Chairperson stated that nothing prohibited the Committee from directly
contacting PANSALB.
Mr Gaum asked to what extent PANSALB was adhering to the provision in the
Constitution.
The Chairperson responded that one of the problems was that the South African
Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) stated that PANSALB had not been doing its
job. A formal resolution on the matter
should be drafted by the Committee, for discussion at its next meeting.
The meeting was adjourned.
Audio
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