Mr Speaker, hon Deputy President, I move without notice:
That the House -
1) notes that 17 November is International Mother Language Day, which is annually observed and celebrated worldwide in support of language diversity and variety;
2) believes that language is the most powerful instrument of preserving and developing the tangible and intangible heritage of a nation;
3) further believes that the promotion of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingualism, but also to help in the development of indigenous linguistic and cultural traditions in our country and throughout the world, as well as inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue; and
4) calls upon Government, non-governmental organisations, learning institutions and South Africans in general to use this day to promote cultural diversity and multilingualism, as well as to encourage South Africans to learn more than one language.
Agreed to.