TUT professor appointed to national language leadership role

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Professor, Thabo Ditsele, has been appointed by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, to serve on the National Task Team towards a Unified National Language Action Plan.

Prof Thabo Ditsele has been appointed to serve on the National Task Team towards a Unified National Language Action Plan. The Task Team’s mandate is to ensure that the country’s languages are further developed and intellectualised and multilingualism is deepened in a properly coordinated manner.

Ditsele specialises in Sociolinguistics and Linguistic Anthropology at TUT. His research focuses on Sepitori (Pretoria Sotho), language and identity, as well as tsotsitaal varieties based on Sotho-Tswana languages.

Ditsele said the appointment reflects years of advocacy for greater attention to language policy in South Africa. 

Having previously worked as an English/Setswana language practitioner at Parliament, Ditsele has long advocated for greater recognition of language issues in South Africa. He views the formation of the task team as a long-overdue opportunity for language experts to contribute to national policy discussions. 

“It means that when one stays the course and speaks out at the right gatherings, authorities pay attention. Serving in this Task Team will give me the opportunity to contribute my knowledge as a sociolinguist and linguistic anthropologist in the deepening of multilingualism in South Africa,” Ditsele said. 

TUT celebrates the appointment and achievement with Prof Ditsele, who plays a significant role in shaping the future of multilingualism and language development in South Africa.

Speaking on behalf of the Department of Applied Languages, Prof Tebogo J. Rakgogo, highlighted the importance of participating in national discourse as part of the University’s mandate on community engagement. He commended Prof Ditsele’s contribution to the linguistic fraternity and expressed confidence that his involvement will support the advancement of language legislation that reflects South Africa’s sociolinguistic realities.

Prof Rakgogo also thanked the deanery for supporting Prof Ditsele, Dr Majola and himself in attending the National Language Summit, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Ministerial Task Team.