Cultural Affairs and Sport

(1) What activities, programmes and/or projects is her Department engaged in to promote and to protect the three official languages of the province;

Response:

The department  amongst others are mandated to promote the three official languages of the Western Cape, namely Afrikaans, English and Xhosa, as well as the previously marginalised indigenous languages of the Western Cape and South African Sign Language (SASL) and have implementing the following;

• The department ensure that all official documents of the Western Cape Provincial Government are translated into the 3 official languages of the Province.
• The Department provides interpreting services for the 3 official languages of the Province. The department has a database of interpreters and source services from list available in the department.
• Developed Xhosa terminologies for the cricket and netball sporting codes.
• Translated the International Netball Rule Booklet from English to Xhosa and Booklet was launched in February 2021.
• The department and the Western Cape Language Committee formulated an International Mother Language Booklet which was distributed in February 2021. The purpose of the book is to make known the mandate of the entity to the people of the province.
• Celebrated in collaborations with other language institutions International Mother Language Day in February 2021.
• The department in partnership with the University of the Western Cape are rolling out Khoehkoegowab  language foundational phase training course. Participants will be able to use their smartphones and computers to access media, whereby they can practise the pronunciation.
• The department in partnership with the University of the Western Cape commence a process to develop a Kaaps-English Bilingual dictionary for multi-lingual speakers.
• The department rolled out an emerging writers programme in Robertson. This is done in all three languages and aimed at the youth.

(2) whether there are any initiatives or programmes that are currently supported by her Department that promote sign language in the province; if so, what are the relevant details?

Response

• The department provide Sign language interpretation services to the Western Cape Government Departments. We have a database of sign language interpreters and sources the services of individuals from that database.
• A total of 1500 packets of SASL playing cards were procured from National Institute for the Deaf. The Department distributed those playing cards to relevant stakeholders in order to promote the use of SASL in the Province.
• The department promotes and supports organisations and institutions that focus on the deaf community.