The aim of this paper is to establish the present status of Tshivenda (language) around Thohoyandou magistrate’s courts in practice and not in theory only. Thsivenda is the main language spoken in the area around Thohoyandou. Is Tshivenda being used by the legal practitioners, the interpreters and the accused in the courts of law? The author also aims to determine whether the use of foreign languages by the legal practitioners has any effect on the proceedings of the courts.