One of Africa's top academics and authors, Mahmood Mamdani, has criticised the use of English in higher education on the continent, saying governments should make indigenous languages compulsory at all educational levels.
The Ugandan author is in the country to launch his highly anticipated book Good Muslim, Bad Muslim, and was speaking at the conference of the SA Association for Research and Development in Higher Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
He said that superficial deracialisation of universities had failed to embrace indigenous languages.
The proposed introduction of indigenous languages in higher education in the country, and suggestions that English was to be made optional, has been met with stiff opposition.
Mamdani said objections to the use of African languages in higher education were based on the lack of resources and the argument that Africans were not ready to learn in their own languages. He said the decision to make African languages compulsory was long overdue.
"It is true that if ordinary people were given the choice to decide between any indigenous language and English, they would choose the latter because that will enhance their chances of getting employment."
That was why the decision should be taken by the state and not left to individuals, he said.