The university became the first university in South Africa to teach its African language in its own language under the leadership of the Linguistics lecturer, Professor Nompumelelo Jafta in the 1980s and other universities followed. 

 

The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) recently held an Imbizo at Mthatha where they were discussing Xhosa words that are considered as insults.

Walter Sisulu University was part of the discussion as they have pioneered teaching these words as part of their IsiXhosa curriculum for the past three years.

 

Sinoyolo Nokutywa, Lecturer in the department of Arts said, “We have been teaching these words because they are part of our literature, you will find them in our clan names and our songs.”

 

He added that as the Faculty of Humanities Social Sciences and Law they never saw anything wrong with the words from the beginning, while other universities will start incorporating these words after PanSALB has regulated them.

 

Dr Zanoxolo Gobingca, dean in the Faculty of Educational Sciences said, “ There is a need for a list of dictionary words clearly explaining these words and those that are not insults. Also people need to be educated about these words through campaigns or imbizo, roadshows, conferences and any social gatherings, the platform to share insight about izithuko and not izithuko words should be created.”

 

He further added that media such as radio, newsletters and newspapers should also be explicit in explaining which words are izithuko words and people need to be educated that these words are acceptable to use in the society. 

 

Nokutywa added that these words only become insults through facial expressions and the tone of the voice but generally they are used as compliments in the African context.