A Desktop Review of Linguistic Practices in Higher Education Post #FeesMustFall Protests: An Appraisal of Academy and Multilingual Citizenship
Soyiso Khetoa 
Issue: Vol.5 No.15 Special Issue Article 6 pp.71-80
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245156 | Published online 18th December, 2024
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Student protests nationwide in the form of #FeesMustFall in South Africa between 2015 and 2016 catalyzed a national conversation on decolonization, inclusivity and linguistic transformation in higher education. This qualitative desktop review examines the evolution of linguistic practices in a South African university post-protests, focusing on the intersection of academic discourse and multilingual citizenship. This review is premised on Language Management Theory which endorses deliberate processes which seek to influence language behaviour among language users. Through an analysis of secondary sources, the study explores the implications of linguistic practices for epistemic justice, academy, and multilingual citizenship post #FeesMustFall demonstrations. The findings highlight the continued hegemony of English in communication, classroom interactions, and research. However, the university has taken steps to promote multilingualism by offering African language courses to first-year students in humanities and engineering programs. The institution also recognizes linguistic diversity as a valuable asset that empowers people in multicultural and multilingual settings. This review contributes to the ongoing discourse on language, power, and knowledge production in African higher education, providing insights for policymakers, educators, and language practitioners who are committed to creating inclusive and equitable academic spaces.
Keywords:#Feemustfall Demonstration, Higher Education, Language Policy, Language Management, Multilingualism.
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Dr. Soyiso Khetoa is a sociolinguist and the current Head of the Department of African Languages at the University of the Witwatersrand in the School of Literature, Language and Media, who is making a notable impact on the field of African languages sociolinguistics. With a diverse and robust academic portfolio, Dr. Khetoa has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters, with additional research articles under review for publication. His scholarly interests span a wide range of topics, including multilingualism, translanguaging, language teaching and learning, humanizing teaching pedagogy, the re-intellectualization of African languages, socio-onomastics, narrative arts, and language ideologies. Dr. Khetoa has presented his research at prestigious conferences locally and internationally, sharing insights that shape contemporary sociolinguistic discourse. In addition to his academic endeavors, he serves as a peer reviewer for various esteemed academic journals, playing a pivotal role in advancing research and scholarship in his field.
Khetoa, Soyiso. “A Desktop Review of Linguistic Practices in Higher Education Post #FeesMustFall Protests: An Appraisal of Academy and Multilingual Citizenship,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 5, no.15 (2024):71-80. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245156
© 2024 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/).
