City brings together language specialists on International Translation Day
01 October 2025
The 30th of September 2025 marks International Translation Day, a day that pays tribute to language professionals worldwide whose work facilitates dialogue, understanding and cooperation. This year’s theme is ‘Indigenous Language Translation: Shaping a future you can trust’. To honour this day, the City of Cape Town’s Corporate Services Directorate collaborated with the Pan South African Languages Board (PanSALB) to host a dialogue and celebration at the Cape Town Civic Centre. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis welcomed all via video and affirmed the City’s commitment to multilingualism by ensuring all its services are available in English, IsiXhosa and Afrikaans. Key language practitioners from various spheres of government, associations and institutions of higher learning shared their translation best practices, challenges and developments.
‘In 2022, the City proudly signed a pledge to promote and support multilingualism by adhering to language-related legislative requirements. As the Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, the portfolio responsible for translation services, I am honoured to host this year’s International Translation Day for the third time with PanSALB. The City of Cape Town embraces and works with PanSALB in championing multilingualism as a national resource and an official conduit to spreading communication,’ said Alderman Theresa Uys, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services.
PanSALB board chairperson, Professor Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst, who is also the director of the University of Cape Town’s Multilingualism Education Project spoke on the impact of technology on translations and how human beings are irreplaceable when it comes to translation services.
Dr Carol Van Wyk, speaking on behalf of MEC Ricardo Mackenzie, shared how language services within the provincial government are not just an optional extra but the necessary duty of a democracy, adding that translators are the unseen peacemakers that ensure translated messages foster respect, trust, unity and understanding.
‘In an era of rapid change, translators are the guardians of truth. They do not just convert words, they connect nations and foster peace. PanSALB's mandate is clear and unequivocal: to promote multilingualism and safeguard linguistic rights in South Africa. To that end, we fully support the mother tongue-based bilingual education programme for inclusive learning and teaching. Institutions of higher learning must also include multilingual pedagogy. Government must prioritise training and research. Translation unlocks knowledge for millions,’ said Lance Schultz, the Chief Executive Officer of PanSALB.
The importance of multilingualism and translation services in courts, education as well as within various government institutions were the recurring subjects of the day. Non-compliance to ensuring the use of all official languages was identified as one of the underlying causes of linguicism, inequality, racial capitalism, unemployment and higher crime rates in South Africa.
To this end, the City of Cape Town has ensured that its translation services include:
Interpreting services at sub council, portfolio and Council meetings, disciplinary hearings and public participation sessions, as well as sign language interpreting, when required
Use of any of the three official languages of the Western Cape in communication with the City, while residents must be responded to in their language of preference
Publication of City notices and advertisements in all three official languages or in the language predominantly spoken in the specific area in the case of community newspapers
Identification signs and directions to municipal offices or facilities displayed in all three languages or in pictorials. The three official languages are used equitably on local road signs and direction signs while preference is given to the language predominantly spoken as far as street name suffixes are concerned
Translation of the subject heading and recommendations of all reports serving before Council into the three official languages
Caption 1: Alderman Theresa Uys opening International Translation Day at the Council Chambers
Caption 2: Group photo of speakers (L-to-R): Front: Aviwe Mvabaza (UWC), Jabaar Mohammed (Deaf Federation SA), Dr Carol Van Wyk (Western Cape Provincial government), Lance Schultz (PanSALB CEO), Prof Mawande Dlali (Stellenbosch University), Mapula Gaffane (Department of Sport, Arts and Culture), Dr Mpho Mudau (PanSALB Board Member), Alderman Theresa Uys, Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst (PanSALB Board Chairperson), Dr Laurian Lesch (UWC), Genevieve Lentz (Western Cape Language Committee) and Dr Nomfundo Mali (PanSALB Western Cape Manager)
Back: Dr Xolisa Tshongolo (PanSALB Eastern Cape Manager), Julius Dantile (PanSALB Languages Head), Dr Sally Maepa (PanSALB Programme Director)
Caption 3: PanSALB board chairperson, Prof Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst, making remarks at the International Translation Day celebrations
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
