Edition February 2026

We begin this year by celebrating a major milestone in education: the Matric Class of 2026 achieved a historic 88% pass rate – a milestone that reflects the collective effort of our educators, learners and families. This success reminds us that when teaching is effective and learning is meaningful, our young people thrive. Government remains committed to strengthening the quality of education and ensuring that every learner is equipped for a future that works.

One proven approach to strengthening education is teaching children in languages they understand. Research shows that that home language instruction in the early grades lays the strongest foundation for learning and that mother tongue education is integral to long term academic success.

As we observe International Mother Tongue Day on 21 February, we are reminded of the vital role language plays in promoting equality in South Africa. Our country’s diversity is reflected in its 12 official languages, all of which enjoy equal status under Section 6 of the Constitution. Upholding this constitutional commitment is both a legal duty and a moral imperative.

Language is also fundamental to how government delivers services, engages communities, and ensures meaningful participation in our democracy. As public servants, we carry a clear responsibility to advance multilingualism and to remove linguistic barriers that undermine access to services and information. Section 6 of the Constitution further obliges the State to take “practical and positive measures” to elevate and advance indigenous languages, including the South African Sign Language. 

This obligation is reinforced using the Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act 12 of 2012), which requires national departments, public entities and state-owned enterprises to develop and implement language policies that promote multilingualism and equitable access to information. This means that government communication must be accessible, inclusive and reflective of the linguistic realities of our communities. 

The Pan South African Language Board, an independent statutory body, plays a critical role in advancing this agenda. Through its mandate to promote multilingualism, develop the country’s official languages and conduct research across all official languages, as well as Khoe and San, PanSALB reinforces a fundamental truth: language rights are human rights. 

Government continues to deepen its focus on language in education. Evidence consistently shows that children learn best when taught in their home language during the foundational years. The Department of Basic Education’s Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education programme is strengthening this approach by extending home language instruction beyond Grade 3 and introducing a late exit bilingual model from Grade 4. This ensures learners continue using their home languages as languages of learning and teaching, especially in Mathematics and Natural Sciences, where conceptual clarity is strongly linked to language.

A 2025 systematic review of select South African pilot schools confirmed that mother tongue bilingual education improves literacy, cognitive development and overall academic performance; especially when teachers use translanguaging strategies that draw on learners’ full linguistic resources. DBE assessment data also show widening performance gaps after Grade 4, with learners who have African home languages scoring on average 32%, compared to 69% among English and Afrikaans home language learners. These gaps become increasingly difficult to close by Grade 6, highlighting the importance of sustained home language instruction.

Language is also central to effective public administration. When citizens can access information in languages they understand, compliance improves, processes are better understood and trust in public institutions is strengthened.

This becomes even more critical as we prepare for the 2026/27 Local Government Elections. As the sphere of government closest to the people, local authorities must ensure that voter education, registration materials and electoral information are available in all official languages. Accessible communication strengthens participation and, ultimately, our democracy.

As leaders and decision makers in the public sector, we must now intensify our efforts to comply with the Use of Official Languages Act of 2012 by:

• ensuring language policies are updated, implemented and actively monitored.
• making information available in at least three official languages, as required by the Act.
• embedding multilingualism across service delivery, including frontline offices and digital platforms.
• reporting annually on the implementation of language policies and progress achieved.
• prioritising community engagement in the languages spoken within specific localities.

By taking these steps, we can build a public service that is inclusive, people‑centred and responsive – a public service where language enables access rather than creating barriers. Let us use the power of language to bring government closer to every community we serve. ❖