Professor Yolisa Madolo is an Associate Professor in the Department of African Languages with over 25 years of academic experience. She began her career at the former University of Transkei as a Laboratory Assistant in the Language Laboratory, where she later became a Coordinator while also teaching isiXhosa to beginners and advancing her studies. This experience led to her appointment as a part-time lecturer in the Department of Humanities and Creative Arts Education, where she taught Curriculum Studies and supervised teaching practice. She later became a full-time lecturer for ten years, focusing on isiXhosa linguistics and methodology, before joining the Faculty of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences as a Senior Lecturer and subsequently Associate Professor. She has also served as Acting Head of Department for Arts and African Languages. Prof Madolo holds a PhD and PGDip in Higher Education from Rhodes University, an MA in Applied Language Studies from Nelson Mandela University, and BA Honours and BAEd degrees from the University of Transkei. Her teaching spans fiction studies, orature, research methodology, and postgraduate supervision. Her research interests include isiXhosa literary studies, translation studies, and children’s literature. She has an extensive publication record in accredited journals and has contributed significantly to translation work, multilingual dictionaries, and creative writing in isiXhosa.

Contact details:

• Tel: 047 502 2403
• Email: ymadolo@wsu.ac.za
• Office: A11, Administration Building, Zamukulungisa, Mthatha Campus

Online Profiles

• ORCID: 0000-0003-1390-8192
• ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yolisa-Madolo-2/research
• Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=H2RHFWMAAAAJ&hl=en

Qualifications

• PhD (Rhodes University)
• PGDip HE (Rhodes University)
• MA in Applied Language Studies (Nelson Mandela University)
• BA Honours & BAEd (University of Transkei)

Dr Pheliwe Yvonne Mbatyoti is a Senior Lecturer whose academic work is deeply rooted in oral tradition and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. She holds a D Litt et Phil, along with MA, BA Honours, and BA degrees from the University of Fort Hare, as well as a PGCE from Walter Sisulu University. Her teaching centres on oral tradition, including praise poetry, idiomatic expressions, folklore, and storytelling. Her research explores traditional music, indigenous knowledge, and linguistic structures such as morphology and syntax. In addition to her scholarly work, she contributes to creative writing in drama and poetry and has supervised postgraduate research in culturally grounded topics.

Contact Details:

• Tel: 047 502 2080
• Email: pmbatyoti@wsu.ac.za

Online Profiles

• ORCID: 0000-0002-9386-3387

Ms Xoliswa Dweba is a Lecturer in African Languages who holds a Master’s degree in the field. She specialises in linguistics and teaches core modules such as phonetics, phonology, and syntax. Her research interest lies broadly in linguistics, and she contributes to undergraduate teaching in foundational language studies.

Courses Taught:

• Phonetics
• Phonology
• Syntax

Contact information:

• Tel: 071 210 6937
• Email: xdweba@wsu.ac.za
• Office: M9, Media Centre, Zamukulungisa

Mr Moeketsi Letuka is a Lecturer specialising in Sesotho literary studies, with academic experience spanning both the former University of Transkei and Walter Sisulu University. He holds an MA from WSU, a PGCE from the University of Fort Hare, and undergraduate degrees from Unitra and the University of the North. His teaching includes fiction studies, oral tradition, research methodology, and modern drama and poetry. His research focuses on Sesotho literature, and he is actively engaged in publishing and pursuing doctoral studies.