A retired professor from the University of Venda, Prof Nelson Mbulaheni Musehane, has been appointed as a research fellow.

He has been appointed Research Fellow in the Department of African Languages in the College of Human Sciences for a period of three years. The appointment is renewable at the end of the term and will be reviewed annually.

“The purpose of the appointment is to encourage critical discourse, enhance the department’s research capacity and to increase the number of accredited publications attributed to the university,” said an elated Musehane. “In addition, a researcher is expected to publish at least one article in an accredited journal per year and may also be assigned limited mentoring duties in the department where he is appointed.”

Musehane had retired from teaching in December 2013. He was the head of the Department of African Languages, Arts and Culture from 1995 until his retirement. He had previously shown extensive skills in research projects, which he had carried out at the University of Venda in the past years.

He had received several awards, including a certificate for being an active researcher.

“I am humbled and overwhelmed by the appointment. It is a great honour to be associated with the institution that produced many legends, and I wish to acknowledge members of staff of Univen who groomed me and equipped me with research skills.”

In 2008, he received an award from the University of Venda for being a researcher who made an outstanding contribution by bringing in more than R400 000 in research or consultancy funding. In addition, he received the Man of the Year prize in research, representing South Africa for outstanding contribution to the country as recognised by the American Biographical Institute.

In 2009, he was honoured by Madison Who's Who of America as one of its newest members to appear in the 2009 -2010 edition of the Madison Who’s Who Registry of Executives and Professionals, having demonstrated exemplary achievement and distinguished contributions to the community.

“During my tenure at the University of Venda, I succeeded to publish more than 50 articles in national and international referred journals as well as other books, which include novels, short stories, poetry and folklore,” he added.