By Ntsika Tshangela
The inaugural Linguistics Society of South Africa (LSSA) Conference continued to captivate delegates on its second and third days, exploring how language shapes democracy, education, identity and the future of African scholarship. Held in Ekurhuleni, the gathering brought together academics, government leaders and cultural practitioners in an impactful dialogue about the role of language in building an inclusive society.
Day two opened with a keynote address by Honourable Dr Dickson Masemola, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, who described the review of the White Paper on Local Government as a “national project of social justice and democratic renewal.” He stressed that citizens cannot be active participants in democracy when decisions are communicated in languages they do not understand. “This is our chance to build a new model of local governance, one that reflects the diversity of our people, amplifies the voices of all communities and ensures that all South Africans can claim ownership of their democratic processes,” he said.
Sessions highlighted the critical link between language, governance and culture, with calls to strengthen multilingual learning and move beyond monolingualism to foster greater social cohesion. Advocate Doctor Mashabane, Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, reminded delegates of the vital role interpreters play in upholding fair trials, announcing steps to professionalise and elevate the interpreting profession.
TUT’s Dr Tebogo J Rakgogo, Co-Chairperson of the LSSA Task Team, noted that the vision behind the conference was to reflect on 30 years of democracy through the lens of language. “One of the sub-themes directly addresses decoloniality. The discussions here point toward reshaping language policy and practice to reflect African realities,” he explained.
Dr Dickson Masemola, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Advocate Doctor Mashabane, Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
Dr Tebogo J Rakgogo, Co-Chairperson of the LSSA Task Team,
Day three shifted the spotlight firmly onto African languages in education, the economy and scholarly publishing. Dr Nozuko Z Gxekwa from the University of Fort Hare, championed the use of isiXhosa as a medium of teaching and research, while also celebrating its growing presence on digital platforms. “African languages are not relics of the past, they are languages of the present and the future,” she said.
Adding an economic perspective, former Statistician General, Pali Lehohla, linked language to identity and power, warning: “Poverty of language means enslavement to others.” He and other panelists argued that reclaiming African languages in higher education and business is essential to social and economic transformation.
The day also included a hands-on workshop on scholarly publishing, where academics were guided on turning theses into books. Dr Thulani Mkhize (UKZN) and Dr Phindile Dlamini (UKZN Press) highlighted the impact of academic publishing in advancing African scholarship, urging participants to craft titles that are “concise, memorable and reflective of their work’s essence.”
Closing the day with a gala dinner, keynote speakers and delegates reflected on the centrality of language in South Africa’s democracy and identity. PanSALB CEO, Lance Schultz, called the gathering a “critical moment in our collective journey to celebrate and advance the rich linguistic tapestry of our nation,” while TUT’s Prof Mashupye Maserumule described the week’s discussions as proof of the “incredible power of language and the fascinating world of linguistics.”
As the conference drew to a close, one message stood out: language is not just a tool of communication - it is a vessel of democracy, identity and the future of African knowledge.
Dr Nozuko Z Gxekwa from the University of Fort Hare
Dr Yanga Majola speaking at the gala dinner
Prof Busani Ngcaweni addressing delegates during the gala dinner
Dr Yanga Majola (far right), with Cllr Karabo Mohale (far left) and Phathiswa Magopeni to her left.