Dr Monicca Thulisile Bhuda is an academic who received her PhD at age 29 from the North-West University in 2022. Dr Bhuda’s PhD is in Social Sciences with indigenous knowledge Systems. In 2013, The North-West University was the first Institution in Africa to establish a degree named the Bachelor of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (B.IKS) and Dr Bhuda was one the first intake. In 2017, Dr Bhuda graduated from the B.IKS programme with distinction and was the only one amongst the BIKS graduates to get a distinction, making her the first cum laude recipient of the IKS programme in Africa. In 2019, Dr Bhuda obtained her Master’s degree in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (M.IKS) also with a distinction. In 2022 Dr Bhuda became the first to graduate for a PhD amongst the 2013 B.IKS cohort of the North-West University. Therefore, Dr Bhuda is the first output of the B.IKS programme to make it to a PhD level. At the University of Mpumalanga, Dr. Bhuda lectures on Culture and Heritage with an emphasis on indigenous Knowledge Systems. She also coordinates a mandatory programme on African history and heritage which is for first-year students.

Dr Bhuda has published 30 academic articles since 2020 with a focus on indigenous Knowledge Systems. She has published 2 conference proceedings, 7 book chapters and 18 academic journals. She has further presented 35 abstract papers in different conferences, focusing on Indigenous Knowledge Systems as a multi-disciplinary field and presented on Indigenous languages. Dr Bhuda’s research contributes to the bodies of knowledge that recognise the contribution of indigenous knowledge in the contemporary society.  Her research contributes to IKS preservation, protection and preservation. The work of Dr Bhuda on Indigenous Knowledge Systems is aligned with the Department of Science and Innovation’s, IKS policy of 2004 and IK Act of 2019.

Dr Bhuda is also a children’s author and in 2021, she wrote a Ndebele children’s book titled: Umgwalo Bobukgwhari bakaKwekwezi. In English, the translated version of the book is as follows: Kwekwezi’s cultural mural art. The Ndebele children’s book speaks of how Ndebele young girls become painters and she has been inspired by the works of women like Esther Mahlangu, Sophy noSinky Mahlangu and Francinah Ndimande who are Ndebele mural artists. Dr Bhuda is also a multi award winning academic with 2 awards received in 2023. She was awarded by the South African National Heritage Council (NHC) under the category of Voice of heritage. The North-West University in 2023 also awarded her with an alumni excellence award within the education category. In 2021, Dr Bhuda was declared a national expert of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture in the republic of South Africa and she served as a youngest member in a national panel of experts that advised the Minister. She has been featured numerous times on TV, radio and newsletters as an IKS expert.

Dr. Napjadi Letsoalo, a senior lecturer at the University of South Africa, with a PhD in Linguistics. His research focuses on paremiology, indigenous languages and gender, language development, and youth registers. He was recognized as the Young Linguist of the year by the Linguistics Society of Southern Africa in 2017. In 2018, he received the Best Paper award at the Language, Literature, and Linguistics International Conference in Singapore. In 2019, he was honored with the Excellence Award in Tuition by the University of South Africa, followed by winning the best paper award at the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences doctoral conference in 2020. Further, in 2022, he clinched the Best Digital Humanities Collection: Community Engagement and was a finalist in the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans. Recently, in 2024, he was awarded the Pan South African Language Board Multilingualism Award in the Youth Category. Dr Napjadi Letsoalo is currently the Chair of the Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, University of South Africa.

Mr. Papi Lemeko is a dedicated scholar specializing in Language Practice, with a focus on Intercultural Studies and Onomastics. Holding a Master of Communication in Language Practice from Central University of Technology, Free State.  Mr Lemeko has contributed significantly to the academic community through research publications: The influence of Afrikaans on naming among the Basotho of South Africa and Online Teaching and Learning Experiences of Higher Education Lecturers and Students in the COVID-19 Era: A Leap to Digital Pedagogies?

In addition to research, Mr Lemeko is committed to education and fostering a collaborative academic environment. Their teaching philosophy emphasizes that all children are unique and must have a stimulating educational environment where they can grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. It is my desire to create this type of atmosphere where students can meet their full potential. I will provide a safe environment where students are invited to share their ideas and take risks.

Mr Lemeko continues to push the boundaries of Language Practice and Media Studies striving to make impactful contributions to both academic knowledge and practical applications in terminology development.

Ms Nthabi Malatji is a Sepedi Lecturer at the University of Limpopo, where she has been teaching since 2016. She supervises research for honors and master’s students and has published articles in various accredited journals. Nthabi actively contributes to several educational projects, including the Kagiso Trust Project, the Barongwa Research Project, and PrimTEd (Primary Teaching Education). She serves as an assistant coordinator for the University of Limpopo’s School of Education Research and the Department of Language Education Research. In addition, Nthabi is an external moderator, examiner, and research external for other universities, as well as a reviewer for various journals. Currently pursuing her PhD in African Languages, she has presented papers at numerous conferences, both nationally and internationally.

Mr Jacob Thamaga completed his BA Degree in Media Studies (2011) and Masters Degree in Translation Studies and Linguistics (2014) with the University of Limpopo. He also acquired a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Development and Peace from the University of the Western Cape (2017). He’s currently studying for a PhD in Linguistics at the University of the Western Cape. Thamaga’s interest is in the following sub-fields of Linguistics; Linguistic Landscapes/Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Translation, Language & politics, Language attitude, Language standardization, Language policy & planning, Terminology Development & Lexicography, and African language development. In terms of employment, Thamaga serves as the Manager of the African Languages Development Unit at the Vaal University of Technology. He was at the forefront of the language policy review of VUT and eventually led the implementation project as the Manager of the Unit. He has more than five years of service within the student support environment and he won best mentor and best administrator awards at the University of Limpopo- Centre for Academic Development. He has presented around five (5) keynote addresses invited by The Department of Arts and Culture National, Arts and Culture Gauteng Provincial Government and PanSALB Gauteng. He also presented six (6) papers at national/international conferences and he also published one journal article which is DHET accredited. He published one article in the Mail & Guardian and he was featured in more than five (5) articles in the VUT internal publications. Thamaga is the founder and Director of Makgwathane Language Solutions company. He is currently serving in several boards as follows: Treasurer of the Board of VUT FM Radio Station, and Treasurer of the Board of Volleyball South Africa. He served as the PR and Media Director of Volleyball South Africa for two terms.T

Mr Thabang Molatou has MA: African Language Studies from University of the Western Cape, B: Tech and N.Dip: Language Practice from Central University of Technology. He is a Language Practitioner at VUT and also affiliated with the Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African languages inf Higher Education.

Dr Xolani Khohliso is the Director for Curriculum and Academic Staff Development Unit and the Head for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. He holds a PhD in Curriculum Studies, M. Ed in Language & Media Studies, B. Ed Honours in Curriculum Studies, B. Ed in Senior, and FET Phase (UKZN) and Various Courses including; Higher Certificate in Information Technology, Certificate in Advanced Labour Law (UKZN), Certificate in Project Management (UP), Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation (UP), Certificate in Public Sector Audit and Governance (UCT), Certificate for entry into the Senior Management Services (National School of Governance), etc. His research and teaching interests are in African Languages Pedagogy, Second Language Acquisition and Curriculum development and Assessment in Higher Education. He is a member of SACE, SAALT, ALTA, ILAF and ALASA. He supervises postgraduate students (Masters and PhDs) and currently teaching Assessment in Higher Education in Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education Qualification.  He is an advocate for African Languages as Languages of scholarship, teaching & learning, research and communication. He is engaged in governance structures, currently serving as Council Member at the University of South Africa; chairing, Academic Student Affairs Committee of Council, Member of SECOC, Member of HRCOC, Senate Member, Member of EXCOC, Deputy President of Humanities & Social Sciences Alumni Association, Board Member of McCord Provincial Eye Hospital. He previously served as a Council member in a position of a Deputy Chairperson of Thekwini TVET College Council, chairing Planning and Resource Committee, Student Support Governance Committee, Member of Academic Board, Member of EXCO and Member of ITC committee as well as other various organisations.