Use of Official Languages Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012)NoticesImplementation of the Reviewed Language Policy for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment9. External Verbal Communication |
| 9.1 | External meetings in the DFFE may be conducted in an official language other than English if it is a common language understood by all the participants in the verbal communication and if all the participants agree to that common language being used instead of English. English translations of any documents or audio recordings emanating from these communication events should accompany the original documentation or audio recordings as the language of record. Speeches will be drafted and issued in English and interpreters (liaison or otherwise) will be provided when necessary, depending on the target audience and subject to the languages in the table in paragraph 7.1. |
| 9.2 | If an official is not available at the call centre or receptions of the DFFE and during one-on-one meetings to assist clients of the DFFE in their preferred language, interpreters (liaison or otherwise) will be used to supplement written communication and assist clients in gaining access to departmental services and information, subject to the languages in the table in paragraph 7.1. |
| 9.3 | The DFFE may provide an interpreting service (liaison or otherwise) if important or strategic information is to be conveyed verbally to groups of multilingual residents at public events organised by the DFFE (for example, izimbizo), subject to the languages in the table in paragraph 7.1. |