The ECPLC is one of the provincial bodies under the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB).
PanSALB, a statutory board established to promote the development and use of all official languages, including the Khoe, Nama, and San languages, as well as South African Sign Language, operates under the mandate of the Constitution.
Its focus is on protecting language rights, advancing multilingualism, and supporting research and language development through its provincial offices and national language bodies.
Dr Sibeko (right) shared that the five-year appointment is a meaningful recognition of the role academics, particularly in the fields of language and digital humanities, can play in shaping national discourse on language equity and justice.
“It provides an opportunity to actively contribute to the promotion of South Africa’s linguistic diversity in both traditional and digital spaces,” said Dr Sibeko, also an executive member of the Digital Humanities Association of Southern Africa.
His research, situated at the intersection of Digital Humanities and language studies, focuses on language complexity, text readability, the development of basic language resources, and the digital representation of African languages.
“My work empowers me to advocate for African languages, especially Sesotho, which is my language of profession and research. I strongly believe in their potential not only as cultural carriers but also as tools for innovation.”
“I look forward to supporting PanSALB’s work in ensuring that these languages gain full recognition in education, media, publishing, and technology,” he added.
Dr Coetzee (right) echoed similar sentiments after her appointment to the Committee as the representative for English. “Since the position of English is already privileged in relation to other languages, it does not require the same kind of interventions and support that other languages do,” she explained.
“I would like to work towards a situation in which the English language is valued and celebrated simply as one of South Africa’s languages, alongside others in a communal spirit of multilingualism – no longer used as an instrument of dominance and exclusion.”
Dr Coetzee, a literary scholar with interests in postcolonial theory, decoloniality, African studies, race, and critical whiteness studies, emphasised the importance of promoting multilingualism in her teaching.
“In my teaching, I encourage critical thinking about the role of English in South Africa and its relationship to other languages. I believe there will be useful synergies between my teaching and the experience I will gain through my membership of the ECPLC,” Dr Coetzee said.
Together, Dr Sibeko and Dr Coetzee’s appointments represent a significant step in South Africa’s efforts to promote and protect its linguistic heritage, ensuring that all official languages, including the often-marginalised African languages, are treated with equal respect and recognition.