Language Policy, Media, and attitudes in South Africa: Navigating Linguistic diversity
Matefu Lefty Mabela 
& Thabo Ditsele
Issue: Vol. 7 No.4 2026 Article 5 pp.1016 – 1031
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026745| Published online 19th May 2026
© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This study investigates how South Africa’s language policy and media representation influence public attitudes towards linguistic diversity and English dominance. The purpose is to examine the extent to which media narratives and language policies shape identity, cultural preservation, and social cohesion in a multilingual society. A quantitative survey design was employed, using a structured questionnaire administered to 74 Black South African participants aged 20–35 in Soshanguve, Pretoria. Descriptive and thematic analyses were used to interpret demographic and attitudinal data. The findings reveal that 80% of respondents value their indigenous languages in the media, yet 66% prefer English for reading due to accessibility and prestige. Although most participants reject language superiority, persistent perceptions of hierarchy and limited awareness of language policies hinder linguistic equality. The study discusses the implications of English’s dominance as both a unifying and marginalising force and recommends stronger policy communication, inclusive media representation, and active promotion of indigenous language use in education and media. This research contributes to scholarship by providing empirical evidence on how media discourses and public attitudes intersect with language policy implementation, highlighting the ongoing challenges and opportunities for achieving linguistic democracy in post-apartheid South Africa.
Keywords: Language Policy and Planning; Language Attitudes; Linguistic Diversity; Language Ideology; Language Dynamics.
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Dr Matefu Lefty Mabela, a language and education scholar, began his academic journey with a National Diploma in Language Practice from Tshwane University of Technology in 2008. He later obtained a Bachelor of Technology in Language Practice in 2011, and a Master’s degree in 2016, focusing on the linguistic rights of ethnic minorities and language policy in South Africa. In 2020, he earned his Doctorate in Language Practice, focusing on the interplay between language and socio-political dynamics. Dr Mabela has been lecturing at Tshwane University of Technology since 2013 and has actively participated in departmental committees focused on research, innovation, teaching, and learning. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Tshwane University of Technology, where he conducts and publishes research on the development of South African indigenous languages and language policy. His notable publications include, among others: “Language and discourse in contemporary South African politics: A Critical Discourse Analysis”; “Exploring Intellectualisation of South African Indigenous Languages for Academic Purposes”; and “Intellectualisation of Northern Sotho for scientific purposes.” He has presented his research at conferences, seminars, and symposiums. His research fields of interest are generally sociolinguistics and language practice.
Prof. Thabo Ditsele is a Sociolinguist and a Linguistic Anthropologist with a C2 rating at the NRF (National Research Foundation of South Africa). He holds the position of Full Professor at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). He obtained a BA (in Communication and Setswana), and a B Admin Honours (in Industrial Relations) from North-West University. He also holds an M Phil (in Second Language Studies) from Stellenbosch University, and a D Tech (in Language Practice) from TUT. He has read more than 40 papers at conferences, seminars, and workshops in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. He is a leading researcher on Sepitori and has published nearly 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals, as well as a book chapter on Sepitori in a book titled: Global perspectives on youth language practices (2022). He has received two research grants from the NRF, for Tsotsitaal (2014-2016) and for Sepitori (2019 to 2021). As a fiction and non-fiction writer, he has published a Setswana novel titled: Maile maila boganana (2008), two Setswana short stories in an anthology titled: Pelo e ganne molora (2008), and his memoir in English titled: From an obscure village to around the world: Volume 1, Americas (2020).
Mabela, Matefu Lefty, and Thabo Ditsele. “Language policy, media, and attitudes in South Africa: Navigating Linguistic diversity.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.4 (2026): 1016 – 1031. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026745
© 2026 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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