The Pan South African Language Board is established in terms of the Pan South African Language Board Act 59 of 1995 amended as PanSALB Amendment Act of 1999. The Board was established according to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa ( Act 106 of 1996) in order to:

(a) promote, and create conditions for the development and use of official languages, including the Khoi and San languages. 

(b) promote and ensure respect for all languages commonly used by communities and languages used for religious purposes in South Africa. Furthermore, PanSALB plays a crucial role in protecting linguistic rights. 

The primary objective of PanSALB is to promote multilingualism in South Africa by:

• creating conditions for the development and equitable use of all official languages;

• fostering respect for and encouranging the use of other languages in South Africa; and

• encouraging the best use of the country's linguistic resources to enable South Africans freedom from all forms of linguistic discrimination, domination and division and to exercise appropriate linguistic choices for their wellbeing and for national development.

 Vision 

Empowering the nation through the promotion of multilingualism by protecting language rights.
 

Mission 

In pursuance of its vision, the PanSALB mission is to:

• promote multilingualism

• create conditions for the development and use of all South African official languages, including the Khoi and San languages

• promote respect and recognition for all languages, including previously marginalised languages and all other languages commonly used by South African communities

• promote the development of previously marginalised languages

• advocate for rights relating to language and the status of language

• initiate, enable, and conduct research in accordance with the PanSALB mandate

Legislative mandate

•The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 

• The PanSALB Act (No. 59 of 1995 as amended by Act 10 of 1999)

• The Use of Official Languages Act (No. 12 of 2012) (UOLA).

• The Public Services Act (No. 103 of 1994 as amended by Act 30 in 2007)

• The Public Finance Management Act (No. 29 of 1999) (PFMA)

• The Companies Act (No. 71 of 2008)

• The Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act (No. 13 of 2005)

• The Promotion of Access to Information Act (No. 2 of 2000)

• Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (No. 4 of 2000)

• The Labour Relations Act (No. 66 of 1995)

• The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (No. 75 of 1997)

• The Employment Equity Act (No. 55 of 1998)

• The Skills Development Act (No. 97 of 1998)

Key mandates/objectives

PanSALB derives its mandate from the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act No. 108 of 1996) and the PanSALB Act (No. 59 of 1995, as amended). In accordance with Sections 6(5)(a) and (b) of the Constitution, PanSALB’s functional mandate is:

• The creation of conditions for the development and for the promotion of the equal use and enjoyment of all the official South African languages;

• the extension of those rights relating to language and the status of languages which at the commencement of the Constitution were restricted to certain regions;

• the prevention of the use of any language for the purposes of exploitation, domination or division;

• the promotion of multilingualism and the provision of translation facilities;

• the fostering of respect for languages spoken in the Republic other than the official languages, and the encouragement of their use in appropriate circumstances; and the non-diminution of rights relating to language and the status of languages existing at the commencement of the Constitution;

• to further the development of the official South African languages;

• to promote respect for and the development of other languages used by communities in South Africa, and languages used for religious purposes;

• to promote knowledge of and respect for the other provisions of and the constitutional principles contained in the Constitution dealing directly or indirectly with language matters;

• to promote respect for multilingualism in general; and

• to promote the utilisation of South Africa's language resources 

A selection of 10 high-resolution photographs to showcase the work of the entity

https://pansalb.pixieset.com/pansalb/ 

Monthly list of upcoming activities for profiling on the DSAC social media platforms.

The contact details of a designated communications representative with whom we can engage regularly.

Ms Ntombentle Huluhulu
Senior Manager:  Marketing and Communication 
ntombi@pansalb.org