To provide for the regulation and monitoring of the use of official languages by national government for government purposes; to require the adoption of a language policy by a national department, national public entity and national public enterprise; to provide for the establishment and functions of a National Language Unit; to provide for the establishment and functions of language units by a national department, national public entity and national public enterprise; to provide for monitoring of and reporting on use of official languages by national government; to facilitate intergovernmental coordination of language units; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Latest Developments:

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012), has been updated with a Notice in terms of Section 12(1) of the Act, and Regulations published on 28th February 2014 in Government Gazette 10140: Notice of Exemption of the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority, as per Notice No. 2379, GG50311, dated 22 March 2024.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012), has been updated with a Notice in terms of Section 12(1) of the Act and Regulation 9 of the Regulations published on 28 February 2014 under GG10140: Notice of Exemption of the National Gambling Board from Establishing a Language Unit, as per Notice No. 3771, GG49079, dated 4 August 2023.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012), has been updated with a Notice of Exemption of the South African National Biodiversity Institute from Establishing a Language Unit ito Section 12(1) of the Act, and Reg 9 of the Use of Official Languages Act Regulations, 2013, as per Notice No. 1286, GG46923, dated 20 September 2022.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012), has been updated with a Notice of Exemption of the South African Weather Service from establishing a Language unit in terms of section 12(1) of the Act, and Regulation 9 of the Use of Official Languages Regulations, 2013, as per Notice No. 2378, GG46705, dated 12 August 2022.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012) has been updated by the Implementation of Reviewed Language Policy for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, as per Notice No. 2088, GG46379, dated 19 May 2022.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012) has been updated by the publication of DSAC Language Policy, as per Notice No. 205 of Government Gazette 44257, dated 12 March 2021.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012) has been updated by the publication of DWS Language Policy, as per Notice No. 1331 of Government Gazette 43981, dated 11 December 2020.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012) has been amended to include Language Policy of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Government Gazette 42422, Notice No. 616, , dated 26 April 2019.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012) has been amended by Department of Arts & Culture’s Official Language Policy, Notice No. 177, Government Gazette 38529, dated 4 March 2015.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012), has been updated with the Use of Official Languages Regulations, 2013, as per Notice No. R.150, GG37398, dated 28 February 2014.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012) has been amended by Proclamation No. 10 of 2013, Government Gazette 36392, dated 26 April 2013.

The Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012) has been added to the website by Government Gazette 35742, Notice No. 801, dated 2 October 2012.