Historic First - Sepulana Speakers Receive Complete Bible in Their Language

JOHANNESBURG – August 30, 2025— For the first time in history, thousands of Sepulana-speaking people in South Africa can now read the entire Bible in their own language. This milestone was achieved with the release of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in Sepulana — the first complete Bible translation ever published in this language. 

The translation was produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses, who dedicated over six years to the project. A team of translators worked diligently to ensure the Bible would be modern, natural, accurate and easy to understand for native Sepulana speakers, allowing them to understand the Bible’s message. 

Mzamo Goloda, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, said: “Jehovah’s Witnesses and their friends who speak Sepulana will be able to use the new Bible during our upcoming 2025 Regional Convention program with the theme, ‘Pure Worship’, that will be held from October 17–19, 2025, in the same venue where this Bible was released in Sabie, Mpumalanga. Attendees will be able to follow the program while reading from a Bible written in modern and simple language.”  

Having the Bible in the language of one’s heart is expected to deepen a reader’s personal study and appreciation of this unique gift from God. 

Both the digital version and hard copy of the Sepulana Bible are now available. You can download a digital copy of the Sepulana New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures free of charge on jw.org. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is now available in whole or in part in more than 300 languages, and over 250 million copies have been distributed.