South African Sign

Language
Laws, Acts, Policies

Prof Ansurie Pillay

SASL in South Africa
• South African Sign Language (SASL) is the primary sign language used by Deaf people
in South Africa.
• SASL is the sign language that is used during television news casts in South Africa.
• SASL is also used in the South African parliament.
• Sign language is mentioned in the South African Constitution.
• The South African Schools Act permits the study of SASL as a language in place of
another official language at school.
• Please note: SASL has just been made an OFFICIAL language in South Africa in June
2022. However, South Africa is one of a few countries to have legal recognition of sign
language before June 2022.
• SASL interpreters are meant to be trained and accredited.
Prof Ansurie Pillay
SASL and the Law
• Sign language is mentioned in four South African laws:
 the Constitution
the Use of Official Languages Act
he South African Schools Act
the Pan South African Language Board Act
• The Constitution states that the Pan South African Language Board
should be established to "promote, and create conditions for, the
development and use of ... sign language". The board may establish
language bodies to advise it on "any particular language, including
sign language ".

Prof Ansurie Pillay

 The Use of Official
Languages Act

• In terms of the Use of Official Languages Act, all government departments

and government entities must have a language policy.
• The language policy of that department/entity must indicate which
languages are considered the official languages of that department/entity.
• Each language policy must also specify how that department/ entity intends
to communicate with people whose language of choice is South African
Sign language.

Prof Ansurie Pillay

South African Schools Act/ Language in Education
Policy
• According to the South African Schools Act, all schools must have a
language policy.
• When selecting languages for such a policy, a "recognised Sign Language"
should be considered together with the other 11 official languages.
• According to the Language in Education policy, one of the aims is to
include the "teaching and learning of all other languages required by
learners or used by communities in South Africa, including languages
used for religious purposes, languages which are important for
international trade and communication, and South African Sign Language,
as well as Alternative and Augmentative Communication".
• South African Sign Language is accepted as one of the languages of
instruction in the education of Deaf learners.
Prof Ansurie Pillay
Language and communication: Explain each image

Prof Ansurie Pillay

Questions
1. Explain the statement: South African Sign Language is not an official
language but it has legal recognition.
2. According to the South African Laws/ Acts/ Policies discussed in this
presentation, which Law/Act/ Policy:
- States that every school must have a language policy?
- Aims to include the teaching and learning of sign language, among others?
- States that all government departments must have a language policy
which specifies how that department intends to communicate with people
using South African Sign language?
- States that the Pan South African Language Board should be established to
promote, and create conditions for, the development and use of sign
language?
Prof Ansurie Pillay