The Durban University of Technology (DUT) community had the honour to meet and engage with the renowned Judge Albie Sachs, a South African lawyer, activist, writer and former judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Judge Sachs was a keynote speaker at the Linguistic Human Rights Dialogue hosted by DUT in collaboration with Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) at the DUT Mansfield Hall, Ritson campus in Durban on Thursday, 27 March 2025.

The dialogue aimed at wrapping the Human Rights month was facilitated by Gagasi FM radio personality, Mr Alex Mdletshe.

Distinguished guests at the event, Professor Melanie Lourens, Professor Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst , Judge Albie Sachs and Mr Lance Schultz.

The Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at DUT, Professor Melanie Lourens delivered the official DUT welcome to the distinguished guests, students and staff present. She indicated that engaging on human rights was crucial in the current ever-changing socio-political environment hence, DUT was the leading university of technology in South Africa which recognised the importance of human rights.

In his opening remarks, PanSALB Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lance Schultz said the mandate of PanSALB is to create the support of the development and promotion of all South African official languages, including Khoi and San languages.

“In a country as linguistically diverse as South Africa, the ability to communicate in our own language within the justice system is crucial. It is essential that our courts and legal processes are accessible to all regardless of their linguistic background,” said Mr Schultz.

Highlighting the purpose of the day was Mr Julius Dantile, PanSALB Executive Head of Languages, who said that the Constitution stipulates that at least two out of 12 languages must be used in the South African justice system. However, he expressed his disappointment in the court system using English only for formal proceedings and called for action to bridge the linguistic divide in the legal system.

Sharing the same sentiments was a former DUT Language Practice lecturer, now PanSALB Chairperson of the Board, Professor Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst who unpacked the mandate of PanSALB in promoting the use of mother tongue.

The anticipated guest speaker was introduced by Dr Sylvia Zulu, Head of Department of Media, Language and Communication at DUT. She expressed DUT’s excitement in having him in their midst and having the opportunity to listen to him share his legal expertise and words of wisdom.

Judge Sachs delivered a keynote address focusing on language use and unequal power dynamics within the judiciary. It was based on the theme: “Language Rights in the South African Justice System: Empowering Access to Justice through Multilingual Court Proceedings and Judgments.”

He took the guests down memory lane to 30 years ago when he was appointed by the late Nelson Mandela to South Africa’s first Constitutional Court, sharing some of the linguistic challenges he had witnessed during his time.

In the modern days, Judge Sachs expressed his disappointment in most white people who cannot speak other South African languages except for English and Afrikaans. He said it can’t be right that a white person can finish their basic education without learning the indigenous African languages.

Together with academics, Judge Sachs felt it was important to engage on linguistic conversations to explore and to find ways and means of relooking the idea of language rights.

Responding to Judge Sachs was a team of experts consisting of Judge Mjabuliseni Madondo, South African lawyer, author and former Judge President of KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Mr Jeffrey Nkuna, PanSALB Senior Manager: Linguistic Human Rights, Dr Anna Johanna Cathari Womack, DUT lecturer in the Department of Applied Law and Ms Nondumiso Mndaba, a DUT Language Practice student. The panel discussion was followed by a robust question and answer session aimed at addressing the linguistic divide in the South African justice system.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the University of Western Cape, Professor Monwabisi Ralarala delivered the closing remarks emphasising the importance of implementation of the language policies.

Mr Jabulani Simelane, PanSALB Senior Provincial Manager in KZN expressed his gratitude to the guests and the DUT community in honouring the invitation and for their input in the discussions, making the event a success.

Pictured: Judge Albie Sachs addressing the DUT community on linguistic human rights.

Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile.

Simangele Zuma