Honourable Deputy Speaker, International Mother Language Day, reminds us that language is more than a tool of communication — the ACDP asserts that it is the heartbeat of identity, the carrier of memory, and the foundation of dignity.
For South Africans, this day should carry profound meaning. Our democracy is rooted in the recognition of diversity. Our Constitution recognises twelve official languages, affirming that each language spoken in our land is worthy of respect, development and protection.
The ACDP understands that from isiZulu to Afrikaans, from English to Tshivenda — each language tells the story of a people. Each holds wisdom passed from generation to generation. When a child speaks in their mother tongue, they are not simply forming words; they are forming confidence, identity and connection.
International Mother Language Day compels us to confront difficult truths. For too long in our history, language was used as a tool of exclusion and division. During the 1976 Soweto uprising, language, became a battlefield for dignity and freedom. Today, in our democratic era, language must be a bridge — not a barrier.
Research consistently shows that children learn best when taught in their mother tongue in the early years. Yet many of our learners still transition too quickly into languages that are not their own, often at great cost to comprehension and confidence. As policymakers, we must strengthen mother tongue-based multilingual education, invest in teacher training, and ensure that indigenous languages flourish not only in homes and communities, but also in classrooms, courts, universities, and digital spaces.
Language development is not just a cultural imperative; it is an economic one. When we develop terminology in science, law, technology and commerce in our indigenous languages, we expand access and deepen participation in our economy.
The ACDP believes that in celebrating our mother languages, we strengthen our democracy, in protecting them, we protect our heritage, and in promoting them, we secure a more inclusive future for all.
