Republic of South Africa Constitution Act, 1961/1971-03-17

as amended by

Provincial Executive Committees Act, No. 28 of 1962

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 65 of 1962

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 9 of 1963

Provincial Councils and Executive Committees Act, No. 22 of 1963

Coloured Persons Education Act, No. 47 of 1963

Provincial Executive Committees Act, No. 64 of 1963

Indians Education Act, No. 61 of 1965

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 83 of 1965

Pension Laws Amendment Act, No. 102 of 1965

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 37 of 1966

Second Finance Act, No. 58 of 1966

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 9 of 1967

Separate Representation of Voters Amendment Act, No. 50 of 1968

Pension Laws Amendment Act, No. 79 of 1968

Powers and Privileges of Provincial Councils Amendment Act, No. 37 of 1969

General Law Amendment Act, No. 101 of 1969

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 1 of 1971

108. (1) English and Afrikaans shall be the official languages of the Republic, and shall be treated on a footing of equality, and possess and enjoy equal freedom, rights and privileges.

(2) All records, journals and proceedings of Parliament shall be kept in both the official languages, and all Bills, Acts and notices of general public importance or interest issued by the Government of the Republic shall be in both the official languages.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) an Act of Parliament or a proclamation of the State President, issued under an Act of Parliament, whereby a Bantu area is declared to be a self-governing territory in the Republic, or a later Act of Parliament or a later proclamation of the State President (which in the absence of any other empowering provision may be issued under this subsection) may provide for the recognition of one or more Bantu languages for any or all of the following purposes, namely―

as an additional official language or as additional official languages of that territory; or for use in that territory for official purposes prescribed by or under that Act or later Act or by any such proclamation,

and may contain provisions authorizing the use of any such Bantu language outside the said territory for such purposes connected with the affairs of that territory and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by or under that Act or later Act or by any such proclamation.