Students from the GTCI at UNIVEN during a visit to China in 2025 (COURTESY) 

Tshililo Khwathisi was especially happy on 14 April. That day, he received his Chinese language certificate from Professor Bernard Nthambeleni, vice chancellor and principal of the University of Venda (UNIVEN), amid applause from his classmates and teachers in the Art Hall of the Green Technology Confucius Institute (GTCI) at UNIVEN. He was one of more than 100 UNIVEN students who received certificates indicating their levels of Chinese proficiency. 

“My certificate shows that my Chinese level is 2A and 2B, and now I am studying the 3A course, which means I will reach HSK level 3 (the third level of the Chinese Proficiency Test) soon. I will continue to study the language and hope to reach level 4 at the end of the year,” said the fourth-year student majoring in International Relations at UNIVEN. “My plan is to go to China to continue my studies and come back to work for a Chinese enterprise here in South Africa. I know there are many Chinese enterprises operating in South Africa.” 

HSK level 3 means he can communicate in everyday situations and conduct basic reading in Chinese, which offers him many opportunities to work in a Chinese-speaking environment. “I chose to learn Chinese because I think it will give me an edge when looking for a job after graduation,” he told ChinAfrica. 

Khwathisi, also known by his Chinese name Wang Li, has studied Chinese at the GTCI for two years and can now communicate fluently with his Chinese teachers. Ted Xiong, manager and senior lecturer at the GTCI, said he and his team are working to help Khwathisi and other capable students to apply for scholarships so that they can continue their studies in China. 

Learning Chinese can help Chinese and South African people to better understand each other and communicate more effectively, said Grace Ruihong Ge, Chinese director of the GTCI. “This is why we are so glad to see so many African students choose to learn Chinese here at the GTCI. Learning Chinese can help these students to broaden their horizons, enhance their cross-cultural competence and improve their international competitiveness. This also aligns with UNIVEN’s mission: to produce graduates who are locally relevant and globally competitive.” 

As UNIVEN is located in Thohoyandou in Limpopo Province in northeastern South Africa, bordering Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique, many students from the three countries also come to study at the university, some of whom choose to learn Chinese at the GTCI. 

“When we first established this institute in 2023, we envisioned more than just language lessons. We envisioned a platform where culture, innovation and sustainability meet. Language is the key that unlocks understanding,” Nthambeleni said before handing out the certificates. He called on the students to hold that key and congratulated them on learning one of the world’s oldest and most widely spoken languages. 

Bernard Nthambeleni (left), UNIVEN vice chancellor and principal, presents a Chinese language certificate to Tshililo Khwathisi (COURTESY)  

A key to success 

“Your achievement goes beyond tones, characters, vocabulary and grammar. You have gained access to a world of knowledge, particularly in green technology, where China has made significant strides. You are now better equipped to collaborate on renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, waste management and eco-friendly innovations that our region and our planet urgently need,” Nthambeleni told the students. 

Launched in December 2023 on the UNIVEN campus, the GTCI started recruiting Chinese language students in March 2024. Since its launch, the institute has not only taught students Chinese but also increased their curiosity about China and its culture, encouraging them to deepen their understanding of China through people-to-people exchanges. 

From 18 June to 2 July 2025, the GTCI organised a 15-day study and exchange programme in China themed “Song of the Yangtze River: Exploring China-South Africa Civilisational Exchange.” This was part of the global “Chinese Bridge” student delegation programme sponsored by the GTCI and Hubei University of Technology, the GTCI’s Chinese host institution. Eleven students from UNIVEN travelled to China, experiencing academic life at Hubei University of Technology and exploring two renowned historical and cultural cities along the Yangtze River, Wuhan and Yichang. 

The GTCI’s Chinese language education has expanded beyond the UNIVEN campus. Chinese classes are now offered at the UNIVEN kindergarten, Munzhedzi Primary School and Marude Secondary School. More than 1,500 students have registered for Chinese classes, ranging in age from 5 to 65. Events organised by the institute have attracted over 6,000 participants from the local community. 

At the certificate awarding ceremony, Nthambeleni encouraged his students to further their studies in Chinese. “Take these certificates not as an end, but as a beginning. Use your Chinese language skills to read research papers, communicate with international partners, apply for scholarships and bring back green technologies to our communities. You are now ambassadors of both cultural understanding and environmental stewardship.”