Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012)

Department

The Department of Water and Sanitation (also referred to as DWS)

Director-General

The Director-General of the Department of Water and Sanitation

Official Languages of the Department

The selected South African Official Languages that the department will use for government purposes.

South African Sign Language

The official sign language that is recognised and used as a first language by a large number of Deaf South Africans.

Working Days

Any days other than Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays

Braille

A written form of communication, aimed at the blind. For purposes of this policy, it is not classified as a separate language

Language Practitioners

Employees appointed to lead language policy implementation for the Department of Water and Sanitation

Multilingualism

The use of more than one language by an individual or by a group of speakers such as the inhabitants of a particular region or a nation.