The aim of this paper is to highlight some of the problems encountered while translating into African languages. The political terminology used in the Constitution and other translated documents such as the DACST Annual Report and the Lantag report form the basis of this discussion. This paper is based on the hypothesis that all languages can be developed through deliberate and conscious effort to be able to translate ideas and concepts already expressible in other developed languages. It is argued that indigenous languages of South Africa, even though they have been partially developed, have not yet been systematically and efficiently developed with regard to terminology. This lack of development has a historical root. Thus the paper begins by making a brief overview of the historical factors which led to this state of affairs and then discusses the problems of terminology with special reference to translation.