A Diminished Role of Indigenous African Languages in South African Institutions
Elliot Mthembeni Mncwango, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Sithole

Abstract
This paper sought to dissect the role of indigenous African languages in South African institutions. It attempted to prove and argue, through research, that indigenous African languages are not fully and professionally utilized by the South African institutions. The roles of these languages were interrogated so that their functional viability could be determined. To do that a research was conducted using interviews, observations and questionnaires. Individuals, groups and institutions were sampled to be used as population. An important finding was that indigenous African languages are not functionally viable and are not used optimally by education, financial, business and legal institutions, and even government. The government only uses them as a marketing ploy or gimmick. Conclusions paint a very bleak picture about the functionality and development of indigenous African Languages. Government, business and education still use English instead of indigenous African languages, for debates, business and tuition, respectively.

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