Unit for Language and Academic Literacies Staff Profiles
Dr Kabelo Sebolai
Position: Institutional Language Coordinator & Head of the unit
Office: 3.13, IT Building, Bellville campus
Email: sebolaik@cput.ac.za
Qualifications: PhD in Applied Linguistics [University of the Free State]
Research focus area: Language Assessment, Academic Literacies, Language planning and management.
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4879-1211
Biography
Dr Sebolai is the Institutional Language coordinator and head of the Language Unit at Fundani, CPUT. He is the former coordinator of the Academic Literacy Programme at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein, Research Lead for Academic Literacy Testing in the Centre for Educational Assessment at the University of Cape Town, and Deputy Director of the Language Centre at Stellenbosch University. He is a Fulbright graduate in MA TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) from Northern Arizona University in the USA and holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of the Free State. Dr Sebolai has published numerous articles in accredited journals on academic literacy curriculum design, instruction and testing and contributed several book chapters in international volumes. He is the current chairperson of NExLA (Network of Expertise in Language Assessment) and Editor-in-Chief of the DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training) accredited Journal for Language Teaching.
Dr Lutendo Nendauni
Position: Academic Literacy Lecturer
Office: 1st floor, e-Learning building, Cape Town Campus
Email: nendaunil@cput.ac.za
Qualifications: PhD in Linguistics and Literary Theory [North-West University]
Research focus area: Systemic Functional Linguistics, Semantics, Rhetoric, Political Linguistics, Onomastics, and semiotics.
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8320-4556
Biography
Dr Nendauni provides academic literacy support across faculties, and he is also a co-coordinator for the SOTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) programme. Before joining CPUT, Dr Nendauni taught and examined journalism, media, and language-related subjects in various institutions over the years. He has supervised postgraduate students’ research to completion and continues to do so at CPUT. His research work appears in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, with two of his research collaboration projects featured consecutively in the University World News in 2022 and 2023. He has been invited several times to share commentary on language and media-related issues on media platforms such as Cape Talk, Radio 702, Sunday Times, and others. In 2016, his research on the representation of language and culture in South African Soap Operas served as a point of reference for the South African National Film and Video Foundation in their project on culture and language representation in SA TV. In 2022, he was invited to reflect on one of his published articles as a keynote speaker in the Global Conference on Advances in Education and Social Sciences in Malaga, Spain.
Dr Vuyokazi Mntuyedwa
Position: Academic Literacy Lecturer
Office: 3.13, IT Building, Bellville campus
Email: mntuyedwav@cput.ac.za
Qualifications: PhD in Educational Psychology [University of the Western Cape]
Research focus area: First-year experience
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4573-5302
Biography
Dr Mntuyedwa is an Academic literacy lecturer at CPUT, and she was nominated as a Mentee for the British Academy Mentorship. She holds a master’s degree from Stellenbosch University and was a visiting scholar at the California State University of Fullerton during her PhD studies. She graduated with a PhD at UWC in 2020 titled “First-Year Students’ Experiences of Peer Groups and Peer Pressure in the Residences of a South African University”. She held a variety of responsibilities while working in the student affairs office, where she worked with first-year students transitioning from high school. In addition, she worked as a Coordinator for National Student Development. Mntuyedwa created a multilingual pamphlet to help first-year students struggling with academic writing and published a book chapter. She is currently working on her publications from the PhD thesis to boost her academic profile as an emerging scholar as her interest is in first-year experience. Mntuyedwa is passionate about writing about the first-year experience as it is a challenging time at the university. She is flexible for collaborations as she is working with local and international scholars for publications.
Mrs Puleng Sefalane-Nkohla
Position: Academic Literacy Lecturer
Office: 3.13, IT Building, Bellville campus
Email: sefalanep@cput.ac.za
Qualifications: BA, HDE (Postgraduate) BED, MA language Technology [University of the Freestate], MPhil in Higher Education [Stellenbosch University]
Research focus area: Student writing in higher education, second language writing, academic development of students and leadership in higher education.
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4019-9275
Biography
Mrs Puleng Sefalane-Nkohla works at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) as an Academic Literacy Lecturer in the Writing Centre with vast experience in leading and coordinating the Writing Centre at CPUT. Her research interests are in student writing in higher education, second language writing, academic development of students and leadership in higher education. Puleng serves on various local committees such as South African Association for Academic Literacy Practitioners (SAAALP) and international committee: International Consortium of Academic Language and Learning Developers (ICALLD).
Mr Thembinkosi Mtonjeni
Position: Academic Literacy Lecturer
Office: 1st floor, e-Learning building, Cape Town Campus
Email: mtonjenit@cput.ac.za
Qualifications: Masters degree [University of the Western Cape]
Research focus area: Academic Literacies, student reading and writing development, translanguaging, decoloniality, Ubuntu and Euclidean Geometry.
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1032-3252
Biography
Thembinkosi Mtonjeni brings extensive experience to his role. With a background as a writing consultant, learning facilitator, and academic literacy lecturer, he offers invaluable support to students. Thembinkosi provides personalised guidance on writing, effective study techniques, and the cultivation of critical consciousness, recognising these as crucial elements for academic achievement. His dedication to student academic literacy development, curriculum decolonisation, and the promotion of dialectical and dialogical thinking is evident. Thembinkosi’s contributions extend beyond the classroom; he has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters advocating for transformative approaches within university writing centres. His research interests span diverse topics including student writing, academic literacies, translanguaging methodologies, Euclidean Geometry, decoloniality, African Philosophy of Ubuntu, and decolonial linguistics. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Thembinkosi is actively engaged in community outreach and leadership initiatives.
- A member of Fundani Research Ethics Committee.
- Representing Fundani CHED at the Institutional Transformation Forum (ITF) and the Mellon Foundation on Decoloniality.
- Facilitating the African Philosophy of Ubuntu in the Teacher Development Programme (TDP) and Staff Induction Programme.
- Facilitating Decolonising Pedagogical Practices with ROs and Mentors.
- Rolling out CPUT Vision 2030 (Oneness and Smartness) in the faculties.
Mrs Jean Collins
Position: Administrator
Office: 3.13, IT Building, Bellville campus
Email: collinsj@cput.ac.za
Qualifications: ND in Office Management
