College of Economic & Management Sciences

Unisa showcases SA's multilingual heritage

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Various departments showcased specific South African languages through traditional attire, music, dance, storytelling and teaching demonstrations

The College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS) recently hosted its second Language Day celebration under the theme "Resilience in Language: Identity, Access, and Curriculum Transformation". Held in September as part of Heritage Month, the event highlighted South Africa’s linguistic and cultural richness while advancing the institutionalisation of Unisa’s language policy within the college.

The event opened with remarks from CEMS Deputy Executive Dean, Prof Maelekanyo Mulaudzi, who emphasised the deep significance of language in society. "Language is more than just a communication tool; it is an expression of culture and identity," he said, drawing on insights by Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont. "One can deduce a person’s heritage, geographic region, socioeconomic status, and other social and cultural attributes from their language and how they speak."

Departments across CEMS participated through their appointed language champions, with support from chairs of departments and school directors. Each showcased their assigned language and culture through traditional attire, music, dance, storytelling and teaching demonstrations. Departments also developed glossaries to strengthen the academic integration of multilingualism into the curriculum, making learning more accessible and inclusive.

"We celebrate this specifically and strategically during Heritage Month, to commemorate the multilingualism and diversity of our beautiful country," said the Language Day Chairperson and Director of the School of Management Sciences at CEMS, Prof Nthabiseng Moraka. "Language is the heartbeat of the people, it’s the sound of history, the soul of a culture."

The judging panel for the day comprised Dr Feziwe Shoba, Language Specialist: Language Services; Nkeke Thosago, Manager: Language Services; Dr Seymour Bothman, Lecturer in Afrikaans Linguistics; Prof Hunadi Nkwana, Acting Head of Quality Assurance and Enhancement, CEMS; and Babalwa Resha, Language Practitioner: Language Services.

Mulaudzi urged the Unisa community to embrace language diversity fully. "Let us embrace all our languages devotedly because they can be an effective means to engrave lasting legacies that could benefit the futures of many of our students who sometimes battle to understand academic content presented through mainstream languages," he said.


Watch a recording of the celebration


* By Tebogo Mahlaela, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Economic and Management Sciences

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Publish date: 2025/10/27

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