The TaalKraal

The TaalKraal is an independent professional network founded in August 2025 by Michelle Rabie and Charles Scheepers. It currently consists of around 120 language practitioners.

Our members include translators, editors, proofreaders, reviewers and writers working across South Africa and the broader African context, across multiple languages and specialisations.

The TaalKraal is not a replacement for membership of recognised professional associations. On the contrary, we actively encourage members to join and participate in established professional bodies.

The TaalKraal operates primarily as a peer-driven professional discussion forum. It is not a formal association, trade union or regulatory body. It does not certify members, enforce rates or provide legal representation. It is a community space built around professional collaboration, shared learning and collective resilience in an industry where many practitioners work in isolation.

Members regularly

Discuss client rates and payment practices
Share terminology queries across multiple languages
Exchange tools, workflows and technical advice
Circulate work, training opportunities and resources
Seek peer input on ethical dilemmas
Discuss structural industry shifts, including the impact of AI
Alert fellow practitioners to potentially exploitative practices