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The Democratic Alliance (DA) finds the situation at the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) highly detrimental to the protection and promotion of language rights in South Africa. The PanSALB has, for what is now 15 months, suspended CEO, Ms Ntombenhle Nkosi; and there is still no definite resolution of the situation in sight. There is an acting CEO, Chris Swepu, in place (as with so many other state owned entities at the moment); but that position is by its nature transient, and prevents one dedicated person from articulating and implementing a coherent strategic direction for the Language Board, and then ensuring that it delivers on its objectives.
Last year, and again earlier this year, I asked the Arts and Culture Minister, Lulu Xingwana, what the status of the CEO is and on both occasions I have been informed that the CEO is still suspended. The Minister has stated that she cannot intervene because the matter is the responsibility of the PanSALB.
This is correct to the extent that the Board appoints the CEO. However this situation has serious implications for PanSALB's ability to perform their duties as stipulated in the PanSALB act, namely to act as watchdog regarding South African's language rights as stipulated in the Constitution and the protection and promotion of the different South African languages.
Given the fact that the Board has not been able to resolve this situation in the past 15 months, the DA believes urgent intervention and leadership is required to address the issue of the dysfunctional board. I have written to the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Arts & Culture committee requesting the PanSALB to appear before the committee as a matter of urgency to firstly account for the current situation, and secondly to assist it in reaching a definitive and mediated solution.