MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
02 AUGUST 2025
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), in partnership with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and the University of Limpopo (UL), is proud to announce the 3rd Indigenous Languages and the Media Seminar, to be held at the University of Limpopo from 13 to 14 August 2025.
This vital collaboration seeks to highlight and strengthen the crucial role of media in preserving, promoting, and normalising the use of South Africa’s rich tapestry of indigenous languages. This year’s seminar theme is: “VOICES OF THE VILLAGE: Redefining Storytelling in a Digital Age.”
This joint initiative responds to a national call to action to fully integrate indigenous languages into the country’s mainstream and community media and public discourse. It also aligns with the Constitution of South Africa, which recognises 12 official languages, including Khoi and San languages, and affirms the right of every citizen to access information and public services in their language of choice.
The seminar will bring together journalists, media professionals, academics, policymakers, language practitioners, students, and community media representatives. It will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, and exhibitions that explore topics such as:
- The state of indigenous language media in South Africa
- Innovations and best practices in multilingual journalism
- The role of media in language revitalisation and cultural preservation
- Community media’s role in indigenous language storytelling
By convening this dialogue, SANEF, PanSALB, NRF/SAASTA and UL hope to inspire a national movement to centre indigenous languages across all media platforms — from community newspapers to public broadcasters and digital news outlets.
We believe that language is not only a vehicle of communication but also a carrier of identity, heritage, and dignity. Promoting indigenous languages through media is, therefore, both a cultural and democratic imperative for society.
Invitation to Participate
We call upon all stakeholders, including government, mainstream and community media houses, editors, language boards, academia, and civil society to join us in this noble endeavour. Your participation will contribute to the growth and sustainability of indigenous languages and help shape a more inclusive media landscape in South Africa.
Together, let us harness the power of media to uplift the voices, stories, and languages that form the heartbeat of our nation.
END
Issued by the South African National Editors’s Forum (SANEF)
SANEF Administrator: Ms Dzudzie Netshisaulu
Email: dzudzien@sanef.org.za Cell: 079 029 7656
UL Communications Department:
For Participation Enquiries: Mr Lebogang Mokaze – 071 233 3272 / Lebogang.mokaze@ul.ac.za
For Media Enquiries: Mr Mosela Selepe – 082 882 5818 / Mosela.selepe@ul.ac.za
