29 for this reason that the Department of African Languages also offers non-mother tongue modules in the two languages; isiZulu and Sepedi (Sesotho sa Leboa), and accommodates more languages at postgraduate levels. Staff Component Professor Z Mtumane is Head of the Department of African Languages. The department prides itself with committed academic staff, hence it produces students of high quality. These include Dr IK Mndawe, Mr T Madingiza, Mr D Sibiya, Ms R Mokgathi (who retired at the end of the year) Ms MD Mojapelo, Miss G Thwala and Professor Z Mtumane. Mr Dlamini has just been appointed as Assistant Lecturer in the department. Due to staff shortage, temporary lecturers get appointed to take more academic work. In 2021, there were five of such colleagues. While still working on a strategy to have a longterm and permanent solution on this challenge, the temporary colleagues do alleviate the high workloads. At postgraduate level, the department offers modules at honours level. This level prepares students for the higher academic endevours of Masters and PhD. It is always emphasised to students that honours is not a complete degree but a transition between the junior and higher master’s degrees, hence it is offered as the fourth year of the junior qualification in other departments. They are, therefore, encouraged to continue to the next level when they qualify. It is at this level that research is encouraged as students are motivated to work independently, under the guidance of their lecturers, to seek knowledge. In fact, they become creators of knowledge. The compulsory research paper is the one that introduces them to more advanced research, in preparation for the master’s dissertation. While, at undergraduate level, the focus is more on two languages, this level encompasses studies in all the nine official African languages of South Africa. These are; isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele, Sesotho, Sepedi, Setswana, Xitsonga and Tshivenda. While the teaching is generally in English, students are encouraged to produce research in a language of their choice. PG Supervision At master’s level, students research, write and produce dissertations in any language of Africa. These outputs become sources of research for future students. Due to their high level, their contents get considered when undergraduate and honours modules get revised. Some become strong enough to have research articles published from them. All this is due to the new knowledge that they include. At PhD level, students research, write and produce theses. These make the students experts in the specific fields of African languages. This is proven by the fact that, from these works, research articles get published in accredited journals. Apart from having students from South Africa, the department attracts students from other African countries as well. For instance, in 2021 students from eSwatini and Zimbabwe registered at this level. One of these students completed in the year and is due to graduate in 2022. Attracting students from other counties, who conduct research in the languages of their countries, proves the Pan-African and international nature of the department. It is one of the ways in which the department contributes towards the internationalization of the University of Johannesburg. Of interest is also the fact that colleagues in the department do pursue master’s and PhD studies in our department. This confirms the high standard of our research guidance, as colleagues opt not to go to other institutions for what they could get, even better so, here at home. Even most of our undergraduate, honours and master’s students choose to continue with their studies with our department, rather than going to other universities. While the Department of African Languages is generally considered a small department, that is fast becoming a thing of the past. Student numbers are growing tremendously. For instance, in 2021 there were 21 new registered honours students, nine masters and seven PhDs. These numbers are expected to grow even more in 2022, especially with the new targets of 23 honours, 10 masters’ and nine PhDs admissions. Where there is a shortage of supervisors, services of external ones will be solicited. Some of the PG students are colleagues in the department. For instance, Sibiya, Mojapelo, Thwala and Dlamini are PhD students. Sibiya and Mojapelo’s works have been submitted already and results are expected in 2022. Thwala and Dlamini started in 2021.
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