Question NW1889 to the Minister of Arts and Culture

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23 September 2016 - NW1889

Profile picture: Grootboom, Mr GA

Grootboom, Mr GA to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture

Whether the (a) Human Sciences Research Council, (b) Iziko Museums of South Africa, (c) KwaZulu-Natal Museum, (d) National Heritage Council and (e) Msunduzi and Ncome Museum Council complied with the provisions to implement the Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12 of 2012, by May 2015, after being granted a temporary exemption; if not, (i) which of the specified entities did not comply and (ii) what steps did he take against the specified entities; if so, (aa) which of the specified entities complied and (bb) which languages has each of specified entities adopted?

Reply:

There is admissible evidence that all the national public entities mentioned above complied with the implementation of the Use of Official Languages Act (the Act), No. 12 of 2012, by May 2015 except HSRC and Iziko.

(a) The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) gazetted its language policy on 18 March 2016 and indicating that it will utilise English, isiZulu and Sepedi for government purposes.

(b) Iziko Museums of South Africa gazetted its language policy on 9 October 2015 indicating that it will utilise Afrikaans, isiXhosa and English for government purposes.

(c) KwaZulu-Natal Museum gazetted its language policy on 31 March 2015 indicating that it will utilise English, isiZulu and Afrikaans for government purposes.

(d) National Heritage Council gazetted its language policy on 30 March 2015 indicating that it will utilise English, Setswana and isiZulu for government purposes.

(e) Msunduzi and Ncome Museum Council gazetted its language policy on 30 March 2015 indicating that it will utilise English, isiZulu and Afrikaans for government purposes.

(i) Institutions that did not comply by May 2015

  • Iziko Museums of South Africa complied by 9 October 2015
  • The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) complied by 18 March 2016

(ii) Steps taken to encourage entities to comply with the Act

  • The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) organised a workshop with national government departments to encourage them to facilitate implementation of the Act with the national public entities reporting to them.
  • DAC appointed a service provider to facilitate the implementation of the Act with all non-complying institutions.

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