The Centre for Rhetoric Studies was established in July 1995, in the wake of the first Symposium of Rhetoric in Africa (now a regular biennial event). It formed a scholarly response to the advent of democracy in South Africa (1994).

The Centre’s brief is to foster research in the interface between rhetoric (the study of deliberation  in the public sphere) and the development of democracy – by engaging in three main activities: hosting research Fellows, organising academic conferences and registering students. From 2001 the Centre has offered, in addition to the existing MPhil and PhD in Rhetoric Studies, a taught MPhil.