Department of African Languages

About the Department

Welcome to the Department of African Languages at the University of Venda. The Department takes you through a journey of higher education through the landscape of indigenous African languages. The Department strives to expose you to South Africa’s multilingual and multicultural context while presenting you a bridge to a successful future. Five Indigenous African Languages such as Northern Sotho, isiNdebele, Siswati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga including Sign Language are offered in the Department. The Department comprises 8 sections that are as follows: Language Practice, Northern Sotho, isiNdebele, Siswati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Tshivenda National Lexicography unit and Xitsonga National Lexicography unit.

Vision
• The Department of African Languages is committed to the development of African Languages of the region as well as to be responsive to the linguistic problems that affect the societies of the region with the purpose of promoting multilingualism.

Mission
• The Department of African Languages has a pivotal role to document, develop and promote arts and culture of the region with the purpose of encouraging scholarship and academic network in developing and broadening the African perspective of the communities of the region that Univen serves.

Mandate
• The Department aims at empowering the communities that Univen serves by developing scholars, researchers, and language practitioners in African Languages of the region

QUALIFICATIONS OFFERED

Professional Degrees
• Bachelor of Arts in Language Practice BALP
• Bachelor of Arts in Language Practice HSBALP

Postgraduate Degrees
• Bachelor of Arts Honours in IsiNdebele
• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Northern Sotho
• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Siswati
• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Tshivenḓa
• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Xitsonga

Master of Arts
• MA in Northern Sotho
• MA in Tshivenḓa
• MA in Tshivenḓa by Research
• MA in Tshivenḓa Literature
• MA in Xitsonga
• MA in isiNdebele
• MA in Siswati

Doctor of Philosophy
• PhD in Xitsonga
• PhD in Northern Sotho
• PhD in isiNdebele
• PhD in Siswati
• PhD in Tshivenḓa

Admission requirements:
The minimum requirement for BA in Language Practice programme is National Senior Certificate endorsed for University admission with minimum of an African Language (Home Language Level) at Level 5 and a pass in English (Home Language/First Additional Language).

Postgraduate Students:
The minimum requirement for admission to Honours, Masters and PhD in African Languages (Northern Sotho, IsiNdebele, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga) is 65%

Career Opportunities

On completion of their degree students will be able to fit well in the following professions: teaching, journalism, interpreting, creative writing and book reviewing, broadcasting, translating, editing, proofreading, terminology development, indexing, etc.

Staff profile

Full names: Dr. Khulisile Judith Nkuna
Designation: Senior Lecturer and Head of Department
Qualifications: PhD (Univen), MA (Unizulu), BA(Hons) (Unizulu), UED (Unizulu), BA (Unizulu)
Phone: +27 15 962 8238
Email: khulisile.nkuna@univen.ac.za
Office no: 18, Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Dr. Mkhacani Thomas Chauke
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BA(Ed.), BA(Hons.)(UL), MA(UJ), PhD(UL)
Phone: +2715 962 8351
Email: mkhacani.chauke@univen.ac.za
Office No: 03, Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Dr Morris Thembhani Babane
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BA(Ed), BA (Hons), M.Ed (Unin), D.Ed (Unisa)
Phone: +27159628212
Email: babane@univen.ac.za
Office No: 33, Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Dr. Mafemani Joseph Baloyi
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BA (Hons) (Univen), BA (Hons) (Unisa), MA (Univen), DLitt et Phil (Unisa), STD (Science and Maths) Tivumbeni College, FDE (science and Maths) RAU, FDE (Education Management) RAU, AMDP (UP), Certificate in Project Management, Certificate in Strategic Management (Unisa)
Phone: +2715 962 9224
Email: Mafemani.baloyi@univen.ac.za
Office No: 02, Foundation Phase Building

Full names: Dr Nthambeleni Charles Ṋetshisaulu
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BA (Hons) (Univen), MA, PhD (SUN), UED (Univen)
Phone: +2715 962 8119
Email: Nthambeleni.Netshisaulu@univen.ac.za
Office No: 22, Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Dr Madala Crous Hlungwani
Désignation: Senior Lecturer
Qaulifcations: PhD, MA (US), BA HONS, BA ED (UL)
Phone: +27 15 962 8349
Email: Crous.hlungwane@univen.ac.za
Office no: 25, Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Dr Lekau Eleazar Mphasha
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BA (Hons) (Unin), MA, D.Litt et Phil (SUN), STD (Setotolwane)
Phone: +2715 962 8389
Email: lekau.mphasha@univen.ac.za
Office No: 08, Humanities and Social Science Building

Full names: Dr Mashudu Maṱhabi
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BA, BA (Hons), MA, UED (Univen), PhD, (UL)
Phone: +2715 962 8491
Email: Mashudu.nthambeleni@univen.ac.za
Office No: 21, Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Dr. Maṱodzi Rebecca Raphalalani
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: DLitt et Phil (Unisa), MA (US), BA Hons, BA and HED (UL)
Phone: +27 15 962 8183
Email: matodzi.raphalalani@univen.ac.za
Office Number: 23 Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Dr. Tshinetise David Raphalalani
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BA (Hons), MA (SUN) STD (VECO), Dipl. Ed Management, PhD (Univen)
Phone: +2715 962 8201
Email: tshinetise.raphalalani@univen.ac.za
Office no: 24, Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Ms. Baker Sannah Leah
Designation: Lecturer
Qualifications: MA (UP), BA Hons (UP), FDE (UP) BA (Unisa), JSTC (Transvaal Teachers Training College).
Phone: +2715 962 9231
Email: sannah.baker@univen.ac.za
Office No: 12, Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Mr. Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho
Designation: Lecturer
Qualifications: BA (ed.) (Univen), FDE (Wits), B.Tech (Unisa), Hons. BA (Unisa), MA (UFS)
Phone: +27(0) 962 9225
E-mail: Ofhani.tshovhewaho@univen.ac.za
Office No: 02, Tshivenda LRD West Building

Full names: Ms. Ngwanapule Margaret Malele
Désignation: Lecturer
Qualifications: BA (Vista), BA (Hons), MA (UP), Diploma in Education, HEDP, Diploma in Translation (Unisa)
Phone: +2715 962 8283
Email: Margaret.malele@univen.ac.za
Office No: 07, Kuwait Building

Full names: Mrs. Malehu Getrude Maluleke
Designation: Lecturer
Qualifications: PTC (Mokopane College), PTD (Mokopane College) B.A. (Unisa) BA Hons (UP), B.A. Hons in Gender Studies (Univen) M.A. in African Studies (Univen)
Telephone: +2715 962 8200
Email: Lamolam@univen.ac.za
Office No: 11, Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Mr. Avhatakali Jonathan Makhado
Designation: Lecturer
Qualifications: Secondary Teachers Diploma (VECO), BA Degree (Univen), BA (Hons) (University of Stellenbosch, Further Diploma in Mathematics Education (RAU), B.Ed (Hons) (UNW), MA Degree (University of Stellenbosch)
Phone: +2715 962 9211
Email: Avhatakali.Makhado@univen.ac.za
Office No: 05, Foundation Building

Full names: Mr. Mashudu Peter Makhado
Designation: Part-Time Lecturer
Qualifications: BA (ED) University of Limpopo, BA (Hons) African Languages, University of Stellenbosch and MA Language Practice (Translation), University of the Free State.
Phone: +2715 962 9224
Email: libonndo261@gmail.com
Office no: 02, Foundation Phase Building

Full names: Mr Sikhumbuzo Sibusiso Khoza
Designation: Part-time Junior Lecturer
Qualifications: CMUS (Univen), BA Media Studies (Univen) and BAHISW (Univen)
Email: Sikhumbuzo.Khoza@univen.ac.za
Office no: 04, Humanities and Social Sciences Building

Full names: Mr. Pfunzo Lawrence Mashau
Designation: Part-time lecturer
Qualifications: BAMS, BAHons & MA (Linguistics) (UNIVEN)
Phone: +2715 962 9224
Email: pfunzo.mashau@univen.ac.za