International Mother Tongue Day:
from conformance to compliance in the public sector
Every year on 21 February, International Mother Tongue Day calls on governments around the world to reflect on the place of language in public life. In South Africa, where multilingualism is both a constitutional principle and a lived reality, this reflection must go beyond symbolic celebration. It must translate into measurable actions within public institutions as prescribed in Section 6(2) of the Constitution.
In recent years, national discourse on language has intensified, particularly around education reform and access to services. While these debates have been valuable in raising awareness, International Mother Tongue Day now challenges leaders in the public sector to move from conformance to compliance.
Senior managers are uniquely positioned to ensure that language policy is not merely aspirational, but a legislative and operational obligations to promote access to information in the languages people prefer.
Language and education
Language inclusion remains central to education reform, particularly through the implementation of Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education (MTbBE) led by the Department of Basic Education.
Evidence consistently shows that learners who are grounded in their mother tongue acquire knowledge more effectively and transition better to additional languages. However, the responsibility of the State does not end at the school gate. The effectiveness of MTbBE is undermined when learners later encounter public institutions that operate almost exclusively in a language they do not fully understand.
Are public institutions complying?
This reality highlights the importance of coherence across government. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and the Use of the Official Languages Act of 2012, require national departments and public entities to use at least three official languages for official purposes and to take practical measures to elevate previously marginalised languages. These obligations are designed to ensure access, participation and accountability. Yet language compliance monitoring continues to reveal uneven implementation across the public sector.
For public sector decision-makers, non-compliance with language legislation should be viewed as both a governance and service delivery risk.
When institutions operate in only one dominant language they restrict public participation and weaken openness leading to the exclusion of many people. This has implications for public trust, policy uptake, and the overall legitimacy of state institutions.
Recommendations
Improving compliance requires deliberate institutional action. Language policies must be aligned to the demographic realities of communities served and integrated into core business processes.
Official communication platforms such as websites, public notices, forms and customer-facing services should consistently reflect multilingual practice rather than symbolic translation.
Language units must be properly resourced and language practitioners empowered to support departments in meeting their statutory obligations.
Equally important is leadership accountability. Senior managers should regard language implementation as an essential element of performance management risk governance and organisational culture. Budgeting for language services should be planned and sustained, rather than treated as an ad hoc expense.
Regular internal monitoring, combined with engagement with the Pan South African Language Board’s oversight mechanisms, provides an opportunity for institutions to assess progress and address gaps proactively.
From policy statements to action
Section 6(4) of the Constitution affirms that all official languages must enjoy parity of esteem and be treated equitably. This principle cannot be realised through policy statements alone.
It requires consistent practice, strong institutional discipline and leadership that recognises language as a key driver of inclusion, transformation and development.
As South Africa observes International Mother Tongue Day, the challenge before the public sector is not whether multilingualism is important but whether it is being implemented with the seriousness it deserves.
Making languages count means embedding them into governance systems service delivery models and accountability frameworks. By doing so, public institutions can strengthen democracy advance social cohesion and ensure that sustainable development is truly inclusive.❖