On formulating a language policy for a South African municipality: The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality as a case study

Abstract

The present South African Constitution, in contrast to the former Constitution, makes provision for the use of eleven official languages. According to Section 9 of the Constitution, municipalities must take into account the language use and preferences of their residents. The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM) responded to the national call by formulating its own localized language policy. This article is an attempt to analyse the strategies employed to formulate just such a language policy. In doing so, tools such as questionnaires and interviews to gather relevant information, will be discussed among others. The article also explores the National Policy Framework of 2003, Vision 2020, demographics and policy goals of the NMMM, as strategies for the formulation of the said policy. The result shows overwhelming public support for the policy. The public’s views and the legislative context also informed this policy. This article offers recommendations for other municipalities in the Eastern Cape to follow this example or build on these strategies in formulating their respective language policies.

S.Afr.J.Afr.Lang.,2007, 2