Language policy implementation challenges in postcolonial anglophone Africa: A case of Limpopo Provincial Legislature in South Africa

Abstract

This paper sought to investigate the challenges that Limpopo Provincial Legislature encounters implement the language policy in a postcolonial Anglophone South Africa. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, demands that each province should develop its own language policy (The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996). The Limpopo Provincial Legislature adopted its Language Policy, Act 7 of 2000, acknowledging Northern Sotho (Sepedi), Afrikaans, English, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, and IsiNdebele as the official languages. The Act provides more details on the use of official language in executive council meetings, in public communication and in service delivery. The main research question was to what are the challenges in the implementation of the language policy at Limpopo Provincial Legislature? The study employed qualitative research method and data collection tool that was utilized was semi-structured interview. The population of the study were all 48 Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs). Semi-structured interviews were conducted until saturation was reached after 13 (thirteen) members were interviewed. The data collected were analyzed using Thematic Analysis (TA) technique where research questions were used as themes. The study’s main finding revealed that Limpopo Provincial Legislature is partially implementing the language policy since English remains the main language used in debates, engagements, and written documents above other official languages.