Reimagining and Reviewing the Role of Humanities and Social Sciences in South Africa
Lefty Mabela 
& Thabo Ditsele
Issue: Vol.6 No.10 Article 14 pp.2424 – 2437
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202561014 | Published online 26th September, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
The study aims to highlight the critical role of the humanities and social sciences in South Africa in addressing cultural, political, and social challenges. It seeks to underscore the challenges these fields face, such as funding limitations and marginalization, while emphasizing their contributions to public discourse, policy, and social justice. The research employed a qualitative approach, analyzing the current state of humanities and social sciences in South Africa. It examined challenges like resource constraints and institutional barriers, while also exploring strategies such as interdisciplinary collaboration, curriculum decolonization, and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems. The study found that despite funding and resource challenges, the humanities and social sciences remain vital in addressing South Africa’s complex societal issues. Efforts like decolonizing curricula and promoting inclusivity have strengthened these fields. Interdisciplinary approaches and community engagement are identified as key to tackling multifaceted challenges. However, persistent marginalization limits their potential impact. The study advocates for increased funding, institutional support, and interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the role of these fields. It also calls for greater inclusion of marginalized perspectives and the integration of indigenous knowledge to foster diversity and equity in academia. This research underscores the importance of the humanities and social sciences in shaping a fair and sustainable future for South Africa. It highlights the need for systemic changes to address marginalization and promotes the value of these fields in driving social justice, equity, and inclusive development.
Keywords: Humanities and Social Sciences, Decolonization, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Academic Marginalization, Equity and Inclusion in Academia
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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 Nkosi, K.P. & Ditsele, T. / E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Vol.6 No.7 (2025) pp.963 – 973 E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 973 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, Lefty, and Thabo Ditsele.“ Reimagining and Reviewing the Role of Humanities and Social Sciences in South Africa,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no. 10 (2025): 2424 – 2437, https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202561014
© 2025 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/).
