South Africa is facing the challenge of creating a viable nation from a situation of interplay between diverse racial, ethnic and linguistic forces. This article discusses the implications for education of the evolving picture of language policy as South Africa addresses the task of nation-building. Language policy is important because of its key role in developing and maintaining identity, particularly that of emerging generations. The results of a bad language policy can be violence and civil war. Language policy, particularly in education, can be instrumental therefore in building a harmonious nation.