Language and education planning issues and democratic policy implementation in the post-apartheid era in South
Africa encompass a range of language-related issues and dilemmas that have counterparts in many countries, within
the emerging global education system. The issues in South Africa were and continue to be shaped by the historical
legacy of colonial rule and apartheid. Contemporary developments present new challenges alongside persistent
problems inherited from the apartheid era. Critical issues in education and language planning are reviewed in global
context. These are followed by an overview of language transformation policies that created the potential for
democratic multilingualism and language equity in the new South Africa. An array of critical issues for the coming
decades of the 21st century, with illustrations from research and practice, provides insight into the persistent
problems and new challenges facing South Africa as language issues and needs compete with a complex
assemblage of crucial development issues.