College of Human Sciences
Monarch embraces vital African languages project launched at Unisa
In a landmark event hosted by Unisa’s College of Human Sciences (CHS), the SWiP Project was officially launched recently under the theme "Preserving Languages: Open, Free, and Accessible Knowledge for All".
His Majesty King Makhosonke Mabena II speaking at the launch of the SWiP Project at Unisa
The name of the initiative, which stands for SADiLaR-Wikipedia-PanSALB, represents a collaborative effort between the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR), Wikipedia and the Pan-South African Language Board (PanSALB). It is aimed at addressing crucial language-related challenges, with a particular focus on isiNdebele.
Distinguished guests present at the launch included the guest of honour, King Makhosonke II of the amaNdebele; Prof Zethu Nkosi, Executive Dean of CHS; Lance Schultz, CEO of PanSALB; Prof Langa Khumalo, Executive Director at SADiLaR; Bobby Shabangu, President of Wikipedia ZA; and Prof Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst, Chairperson of PanSALB.
Prof Zodwa Motsa Madikane, Vice-Principal: Teaching, Learning, Community Engagement and Student Support at Unisa, welcomed the distinguished attendees, adding: "It is an honour to see African languages – especially isiNdebele – marrying technology and moving forward. At Unisa, we have a new language policy that accommodates all 11 languages, in accordance with the constitution."
King Makhosonke II received a warm welcome from Unisa’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, who expressed gratitude for his dedicated support of Unisa, and spelled out her aspirations for future collaborative efforts.
In his address, King Makhosonke II commended the inspiring work undertaken by the SWiP Project to promote African languages, and isiNdebele in particular. He expressed the wish that government and other stakeholders would initiate similar projects, to further develop and promote our indigenous languages.
The King expressed his gratitude to Unisa for hosting the SWiP Project and took the opportunity to provide a brief historical background on amaNdebele people and their geographical distribution, particularly in the former Transvaal (now Gauteng and Mpumalanga). He paid tribute to the significant strides organisations such as PanSALB have made, in the development and preservation of isiNdebele as a language.
In particular, the King highlighted a concerning trend in South African schools, where the number of learners using their home language, is declining. In his closing remarks, he emphasised the importance of encouraging Ndebele people to speak and use isiNdebele in townships, reiterating the need for cultural and linguistic preservation.
The SWiP Project is scheduled to run from October 2023 to July 2024, with its initial phase focusing on comprehensive Wikipedia training across the nation, in a range of topics, including basic and advanced Wikipedia use, editing techniques and training methods.
It is envisaged that the different training phases will make a sustainable impact, by equipping participants with the skills and knowledge needed to independently conduct similar events in their respective communities. This project represents a significant step forward in fostering language preservation and inclusivity on Wikipedia, and ensuring that South African languages – starting with isiNdebele – receive the attention and representation they deserve in the digital era.
For full coverage of the launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6TjRBj0DZ4
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* By Tebogo Mahlaela, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Human Sciences
Publish date: 2023/10/02
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