New Editor-in-Chief: Dr Mampoi Mabena

Posted 16 September 2026 by under Announcements & Notices • Journal: Southern African Journal of Applied Language Studies

Dr Mampoi Mabena has been officially appointed as the new Editor-in-Chief of the Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies. A highly regarded academic, Dr Mabena brings extensive expertise in the field of linguistics and a deep commitment to advancing scholarship tailored to the African continent.

Dr Mabena holds a PhD in Languages, Linguistics, and Literature and currently serves as a senior lecturer in the English Department within the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Johannesburg. Her primary research focuses on critical multilingual studies and the pragmatic use of language, addressing real-world linguistic phenomena and challenges within multilingual societies and the Global South.

Stepping into her new role, Dr Mabena expressed immense gratitude and outlined a collaborative path forward for the publication. “I am honoured to serve as the Chief Editor of this prestigious journal," she stated. "As the new Editor-in-Chief, I look forward to working collaboratively with authors, reviewers, editorial board members, the NISC team, and readers to maintain and enhance the journal's reputation for publishing high-quality, impactful research. My vision is to strengthen the journal's position as a leading platform for rigorous scholarship and to expand its reach and influence within the international academic community. I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to contributing to the continued growth, visibility, and success of the journal.”

Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies serves as a vital forum for research into all the languages of southern Africa. The journal welcomes original contributions across the core areas of linguistics, applied linguistics, and language practice, with a particular focus on matters relevant to the (southern) African context. In addition to full-length articles, it features review articles, short research reports, and book reviews. Reflecting the linguistic diversity of the region, articles published in languages other than English are accompanied by an extended English summary. The journal continues to grow its international academic reach, holding a 2025 Impact Factor of 0.5.

 

 

 

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The proofs look great! Thank you so much. The efficiency of the journal now is really excellent. Easy to work with, and so thorough. I appreciate it.
- Regular SAJP Author on his first interaction with NISC
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The biggest development in the history of Quaestiones Mathematicae was the association with NISC and to have the journal running in a very stable way without severe financial concerns.
- Barry Green, QM Editor
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It has been an enriching experience working with such enthusiastic and professional people at NISC who have become more friends than business partners over the years.
- Stan Pillar, Editor of the African Journal of Marine Science (1996-2013)
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The NISC partnership has benefited the Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology by bringing sustainability, additional branding and marketing, a wider reach through its websites, and the added value of expertise in the very competitive world of publishing.
- Chris Stones, IPJP Editor-in-Chief since 2003
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Thank you for the rare experience of a set of proofs on which I can find nothing to correct!
- SAJP author from Florida Atlantic University
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Perhaps the most important change, in terms of bringing the Journal to a wider audience, has been its publishing in collaboration with the NISC (Pty) Ltd.
- Stan Pillar, Editor of the African Journal of Marine Science (1996-2013)
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Since 1995, NISC has systematically built up competence and the necessary capacity in all aspects of publishing high-level research journals, with the professionalism needed to flourish in the increasingly competitive world of international research publications. No other publisher in South Africa commands the necessary technical skills, experience, competence, enthusiasm and resources to the same degree as NISC, in my view.
- Graham Baker, Editor of the South African Journal of Science (1973-2008)
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The review process is quick and is being done within the reasonable time. After acceptance, NISC is also quick enough to send proofs and is very efficiently publishes the accepted paper online before its print version.
- Author - Southern Forests: A Journal of Forest Science
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The paper was wonderfully laid out and rapidly published
- Author- Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology
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Excellent attention by editor-in-chief; very good work of reviewers; good time for review and processing.
- Author - African Journal of Range & Forage Science
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The editorial experience was excellent: the reviewers were timely and their feedback was generative. The co-editor of the special issue was proactive about communicating information to me. In latter stages, the staff that shepherded the essay through the copy-editing stages was also very helpful and in good contact.
- Author - Eastern African Literary and Cultural Studies
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A very supportive, personal and committed editorial team, which takes quality of the work very seriously. I learned a lot through the experience of publishing with Anthropology Southern Africa, and felt supported throughout the process.
- Author - Anthropology Southern Africa
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