Xolisa Guzula – The Conversation

Liberation struggle: Soweto students protest in 1976 against having to use the Afrikaans language at school. Mike Mzileni/AFP/Getty Images

March 20, 2025

What is apartheid? New book for young readers explains South Africa’s racist system

Xolisa Guzula, University of Cape Town and Athambile Masola, University of Cape Town

Together Apart: The Story of Living in Apartheid was written by two academics for readers of all ages to know about the pain and the triumph of South Africa’s past.

Reading and. writing are not just cognitive skills - they are socially shared and shaped practices. Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

May 21, 2023

South Africa’s reading crisis: 5 steps to address children’s literacy struggles

Catherine Kell, University of Cape Town; Carolyn McKinney, University of Cape Town; Robyn Tyler, University of the Western Cape, and Xolisa Guzula, University of Cape Town

These interventions have the potential to boost South African children’s literacy.

Schools need assistance to develop language policies that support multilingual education. Shutterstock

August 2, 2022

Bilingual education can work in South African schools: here’s how

Robyn Tyler, University of the Western Cape; Brian Ramadiro, University of Fort Hare; Carolyn McKinney, University of Cape Town, and Xolisa Guzula, University of Cape Town

Bilingual education is possible for all South Africa’s children.

Jacana Media

March 3, 2022

Imbokodo is a long overdue series of children’s books on South African women

Xolisa Guzula, University of Cape Town and Athambile Masola, University of Cape Town

The books aim to write women back into history for children to see that women are able to take up powerful positions in society.

One South African school issues ‘demerits’ if their pupils speak anything but English. David Ritchie/Cape Argus

September 6, 2016

How schools use language as a way to exclude children

Carolyn McKinney, University of Cape Town and Xolisa Guzula, University of Cape Town

Schools and universities in post-colonial contexts still operate within the logic of coloniality. This is starkly illustrated by their language policies.

Being able to learn science in a number of languages helps children to develop an understanding of concepts - like the robotics used to build this dinosaur. David Mercado/Reuters

September 1, 2015

Multilingualism boosts learning ‑ and can create new science knowledge too

Robyn Tyler, University of Cape Town; Carolyn McKinney, University of Cape Town, and Xolisa Guzula, University of Cape Town

Using more than one language when teaching and learning science in schools can greatly enhance concept development. This in fact goes to the heart of science.

Contact Xolisa for