Gallery: It’s how you say it - Multilingualism Awards

This week the annual Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) Multilingualism Awards took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Judge Albie Sachs gave the keynote address, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula was on hand for the proceedings and a host of South Africans honouring their home languages were there to accept awards and speak out for the rights of their mother tongues.

Here’s what the awards looked like:

LAUGH OUT Guests, including sports minister Fikile Mbalula and Judge Albie Sachs, laugh as the annual PanSALB Multilingual Awards get under way PHOTO: SUPPLIED

GROUP POSE Guests and presenters gather for a quick selfie at this year’s Awards ceremony PHOTO: supplied

SPEAKERS PanSALB Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rakwena Mpho Monareng, with Judge Albie Sachs at the event PHOTO: SUPPLIED

CLOSE UP PanSALB Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rakwena Mpho Monareng, hugs Judge Albie Sachs, while a Sign Language speaks stands byPHOTO: SUPPLIED

SPEAKING OUT Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula addresses the audience of award winners and language activists during the annual PanSALB Multilingualism Awards in Cape Town this week PHOTO: supplied

ALL HAIL Praise poet, singer and actress Jessica Mbangeni begins the proceedings at the PanSALB Awards PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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ROUSING APPLAUSE The audience of award winners and language activists shows their appreciation at the PanSALB Awards this week PHOTO: supplied

THE GREAT DEBATERS Guests at the annual PanSALB Multilingualism Awards share their ideas for preserving languages before the ceremony begins PHOTO: suppled

HAUTE HERITAGE A guest shows off her traditional dress at the PanSALB Multilingualism Awards in Cape Town this week. The awards are about preserving all our heritage through the protection of language PHOTO: supplied

GOOD SPORT Supersport commentator Baba Mthethwa collects his award in the media category from PanSALB CEO Dr Rakwena Mpho MonarengPHOTO: supplied

ACTIVIST Florence Masebe accepts her award for her contribution to Tshivenda from PanSALB’s Dr Rakwena Mpho Monareng PHOTO: supplied

STRONG SIGN Nenio Mbazima accepts his award for Sign Language, he is the author of Strong Wind, a memoirPHOTO: SUPPLIED