South Africa’s Official Languages Increase to 12 as Ramaphosa Passes Bill Recognising Sign Language

The language count of South Africa has increased to 12 as President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a bill recognising South African Sign Language (SASL) as an official language during a ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

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As per CapeTalk, the Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill was unanimously passed by the National Assembly in May 2023 to give people who are deaf or hearing impaired equal protection before the law.

This significant move promotes language and its dialects, diversity, and inclusion in South Africa. While SASL is not universally recognised, this recognition as an official language is essential to greater inclusivity and accessibility for all South Africans.

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Picture: Unsplash / Nic Rosenau

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