International Mother Language Day is celebrated on 21 February.

This year, the City of Cape Town is encouraging employees and Capetonians to join the country and showcase Cape Town’s unique diversity, official languages, and cultural heritage by sharing words and phrases that they have learned from daily interactions with their colleagues.

Words and videos can be sent to: interpreting.services@capetown.gov.za. The City’s Language Services Unit will receive and collate all of the contributions.

‘There are many sayings that are uniquely Capetonian, and as we interact and get to know one another, we also learn a little about each other’s language and culture. During this week we are giving participating employees and residents the opportunity to submit the sayings and words that they have learned from their colleagues to the City’s Language Services Unit, and also explain what it means. They can also submit videos. The unit will collate the material during the week and post it on a digital wall for all to see. We are hoping for colourful and interactive engagement.

‘Apart from being fun and inclusive, this activity also intends to remind us of our rich diversity and the beauty of our indigenous languages. Although many of us do not speak more than two languages, we do, over time, get to understand certain words and sayings, and can greet each other in the other person’s Mother Language. This builds inclusivity and mutual respect and understanding. I’m very excited to see the words, sayings, and idioms to appear on the virtual wall over the next few days,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys.

The City’s Language Policy was approved by Council on 18 November 2021, and is available on the City’s website in the three official languages – English, Xhosa and Afrikaans – in line with the Provincial Languages Act of 1998.

In 2023 the Constitution was amended to include SA Sign Language as one of the country’s national official languages.

‘We have an external panel of interpreters to provide this service on request, and also, Sign Language interpreting happens at every Council meeting from an interpreting booth and is streamed to the public via a link on the City’s website. Interpreters are also available on request to assist at public participation meetings, staff training, City workshops, and any other public engagement where the service may be needed.

‘I want to remind the public that any person may use any of the Western Cape’s three official languages – English, Xhosa, or Afrikaans – when communicating with the City. This is to promote equal access to information and participation, and to promote multilingualism. Any person may request that an engagement happens in their preferred language, and for the content to be translated,’ said Alderman Uys.

The following information is available in all three official languages:

• All by-laws, including draft versions that are used for public participation
• A notice of motion or a formal motion in the Council or its committees
• The subject headings and recommendations to all reports
• Notices of all meetings and indices to agendas
• All official notices to be published in the Provincial Gazette
• Identification signage of and directions to municipal offices or facilities must be in the three official languages, if they are not in pictorials

The City’s Language Services Unit provides specialised translating, editing and interpreting services to the City; liaises with the Western Cape Language Committee, Pan South African Language Board, the National Language Service, lexicographical units, and so forth.

Caption: Ald. Theresa Uys, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, together with employees from the City’s Language Services Unit. At the back are Sive Ndikandika and Ntembeko Tetesa (in the white t-shirt), and in front, next to Ald. Uys are Nomawethu Tshona, Manager of the Language Services Unit, and Iona Fortuin and Ngwekazi Katoyi.