Breaking the Language Barrier: Why South Africa’s Courts Are Failing Millions | Dr. Zakeera Docrat

Loading player...
This week on The Social Impact Show, forensic linguist Dr. Zakeera Docrat exposes how South Africa’s English-only court policy denies justice to millions—and reveals Chief Justice Mandisa Maya’s bold plan to fix it.

🔍 Key Takeaways:
The 2017 policy crisis: How declaring English the sole language of record created a "justice desert" for non-English speakers.
Groundbreaking solutions: Why bilingual judgments (e.g., isiXhosa + English) could be the first step to reform.
AI vs. human interpreters: Dr. Docrat’s surprising verdict on technology’s role in courtrooms.

Historic conference wins: How Africa’s first Forensic Linguistics summit is reshaping legal practice globally.

💡 Why Listen?
"Language isn’t just words—it’s the difference between freedom and prison." — Dr. Docrat on courtroom inequality.
"We’re piloting change in provinces now. In 10 years, every South African must understand their trial."
🎧 Listen Now → Then share this episode with #LanguageJusticeSA

#ForensicLinguistics #AccessToJustice #Multilingualism #SouthAfrica
10 Jul English South Africa Business · Non-Profit

Other recent episodes

Grow Giraffe App Revolutionises South Africa’s Preschool Management

In this episode, Samm Marshall speaks to Tracey Chambers, CEO of Grow ECD, about how the Grow Giraffe App is transforming preschool management across South Africa. With over 4,900 early childhood centers now using the platform, Grow Giraffe is helping ECD owners streamline operations, manage finances, track learner progress, and…
1 Nov 21 min

Intro for the Triple P Bottom Line — Unplugged Interview

Today on The Triple P Bottom Line — Unplugged, Samm Marshall and Diane Naidoo sit down with Candice Knipe-Tlhotlhalemajoe, a powerhouse in corporate sustainability and Africa’s green-economy movement. Candice shares her journey of aligning profit, people, and planet, the challenges of embedding ESG in African organisations, and why she believes…
31 Oct 51 min

Champion Edition: Morgan Chen-Heyneke — Aim. Focus. Inspire.

This week, The Social Impact Show continues its celebration of young South African champions. Morgan Chen-Heyneke, an award-winning junior archer from Gauteng, joins Samm Marshall to share her journey — from discovering archery to competing at national level and learning what it really means to have a champion’s mindset. Morgan…
31 Oct 15 min

Little Ears, Big Potential — Changing How South Africa Listens

In this powerful episode of The Social Impact Show with Samm Marshall, we speak to Jessica McGuire, Director and Founder of Hope Hear and a leading voice in the Hold My Hand Community, about transforming how South Africa supports children with hearing loss. Every day, babies are born with hearing…
30 Oct 18 min

Redefining Creativity: Red & Yellow’s Big Wins at the 2025 Loeries

In this episode of The Social Impact Show with Samm Marshall, we celebrate a moment of creative triumph! Fresh from their incredible 13 wins at the 2025 Loerie Awards, we sit down with Verusha Maharaj, Managing Director of Red & Yellow Creative School of Business, to explore what fuels this…
30 Oct 13 min