South Africa Today Research Articles

Speak with one voice! Towards an ecumenical ethics applicable to the church-state dialogue in South Africa

This research deals with the question of whether an ecumenical ethics can be developed in South Africa that at least will be applicable in the field of political ethics and that can assist the various ecclesiastical traditions to ‘speak with one voice’ when they address the government on matters of Christian ethical concern. The research rests on the recognition of the variety of ethical persuasions and points of view that flow from the variety of hermeneutical approaches to Scripture. However, within this plethora of ethical discourses, an ‘overlapping’ ethics based on a proposed set of minimum theological ideas can be pursued in order to reach at least an outline of an applicable ecumenical political ethics conducive to the church–state dialogue in South Africa today. The article concludes that a ‘minimum consensus’ on the role of revelation in the moral discourses is possible and is enriched by traditional ideas such as creation and natural law, the reign of God and Christology, and it can provide a suitable common ground for an ecumenical ethics applicable to the moral difficulties in the political domain in South Africa today.

Reconsidering the Freedom Charter, the black theology of liberation and the African proverb about the locust’s head in the context of poverty in South Africa

While South Africa attained liberation from the apartheid rule in 1994, the legacy of colonialism and apartheid – in the form of poverty and economic inequality – continues to haunt black South Africans. The aim of this article is to make a case for the equitable sharing of South Africa’s mineral wealth amongst all its citizens with the view to alleviate poverty. Firstly, this article provides a reflection on the Freedom Charter and suggests that the values of the Charter, for instance, the sharing of resources and wealth, are relevant in South Africa today. Secondly, it is argued in the present article that the preferential option for the poor which is upheld in the black theology of liberation is equally relevant in post-apartheid South Africa where many black South Africans remain poor. Thirdly, this article argues that the African proverb, Bana ba motho ba ngwathelana hlogo ya tšie [The siblings share the head of a locust], also echoes the idea of equitable sharing of resources with a view to alleviate poverty. Lastly, the author submits that the idea of equitable sharing of resources and wealth that is echoed in the Freedom Charter, the black theology of liberation and the African wise saying support the equitable redistribution of the mineral wealth to the benefit of all South Africans.

Diversity: Negotiating difference in Christian communities

This article seeks to present challenges of negotiating difference and diversity in Christiancommunities in South Africa today. It reflects the intersectional nature of racial, gender, ethnicand economic difference, and ways in which land, capital and other power constructs continueto underpin and deepen exclusion. It then considers the status of diversity in Christiancommunities highlighting ways in which the fault lines in society are running throughChristian communities, and how such communities almost spontaneously engage in ‘othering’more naturally than in ‘embracing’. The article proposes the re-conceptualisation of diversitywithin the bigger South African project of socio-economic transformation, and that theconversation about difference and diversity in Christian communities should be brought intodialogue with critical diversity theory, which considers diversity in relation to equity, humanrights and social justice. Finally, the article provides an overview of the contributions that formpart of this collection of articles, tracing how a number of Christian communities seek tonegotiate diversity and difference ecclesially and theologically.

‘SURELY, GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME...’: READING PSALM 23:6 IN CONVERSATION WITH JOHN WESLEY

On the understanding that the addressees of Psalm 23 experienced the challenges of poverty, corruption, injustices and conflict, the interest of this article lies at asking three cardinal questions: First, what Imago Dei does Ps 23 present in the context of poverty, corruption, injustice and conflict, and more importantly with respect to the ‘goodness and mercy’ of YHWH? Second, how does the idea of ‘goodness and mercy’ (cf. Ps 23:6) relate to John Wesley’s theology on the ‘works of mercy’ and ‘doing good’ − particularly in light of the mission imperatives of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa? Third, how could the Methodist people be the interlocutors of ‘goodness and mercy’ in South Africa today?

The Death that Dare(d) Not Speak its Name: The Killing of Sister Aidan Quinlan in the East London Riots of 1952

The killing and cannibalising of Irish nun Sister Aidan Quinlan in the South African township of Duncan Village, East London, at the height of the African National Congress’s (ANC) 1952 Defiance Campaign, is an event that has long been difficult in the telling. Although widely reported in the media at the time, it has been largely downplayed in the historiography of that period. However, recent anniversaries have revived narratives of her death and invited considerations of what it means for South Africa today. This article seeks to extend that trajectory by providing an account of events surrounding her death, considering the way in which they have been recorded (or not recorded) in historical texts, and suggesting reasons for the silences. These reasons include sensitivities around the topic of cannibalism, reluctance to obscure the deaths of scores of other people who were shot by police that day, and fear of sullying the ANC’s heroic narratives of the liberation struggle, and of perpetuating racist stereotypes. Yet the events have the potential to throw light on important but under-researched features of South Africa’s path to democracy, not least the role of missions and of nuns, and perceptions of that role among the people they serve. They remind us of potential effects of intolerable poverty, political oppression and police violence, and of the importance of remembering our pasts if we are to determine our futures. Political anxieties should not be allowed to prevent the telling of Sister Aidan’s story nor stand in the way of reasoned re-analysis of the events that led to her death. By confronting the painful facts of her death we are freed to consider other silences that surround it, including the role of the East London chapter of the Defiance Campaign and its leaders.

Assessment of residents’ attitude towards ecotourism in KwaZulu-Natal protected areas

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to assess the attitude of residents towards ecotourism in KwaZulu-Natal protected areas. It also determined how barriers to ecotourism trips could negatively affect the success of tourism development in protected areas. The new South Africa today has widely and innovatively embraced ecotourism based largely around the protected areas. Residents’ attitude towards tourism is one of the important indicators for sustainable development in protected areas. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 212 copies of structured questionnaires were used to collect information for the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the target population of the protected areas while respondents were selected from the communities based on random sampling technique. Mean scores for barriers to ecotourism trips were determined. Descriptive statistics and T-test inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Findings – The results agree with the theory of planned behaviour where intentions of residents to participate in ecotourism were directly influenced by barriers such as no time, low income and no transportation. It was also found out that preference for ecotourism trips was significantly influenced by the various barriers to ecotourism activities. High level of unemployment and high level of illiteracy were considered to be responsible for poor attitude in Kwadlangezwa with many (43.4 per cent) unwilling to support ecotourism development projects. Research limitations/implications – The research implication infers that high level of poverty and illiteracy in communities surrounding protected areas could seriously indicate non-support for development projects. Practical implications – Ecotourism-related businesses need be developed in destinations to alleviate poverty. Social implications – The moral of residents need be boosted through workshops and educative seminars. Originality/value – The study was conducted during the author’s research fellowship with the Department of Recreation and Tourism, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa, South Africa.

AFRICAN MARRIAGE COUNSELLING AND THE RELEVANCE OF WESTERN MODELS OF COUNSELLING

This article explores the relevance of Western models of marriage counselling in the African context and specifically with Zulu couples. It argues that because of different worldviews, there are elements of western therapeutic approaches with couples that do not fit with the beliefs and values of many African people. The article examines some of the philosophies that underlie marriage in contemporary Zulu society, as well as the worldview, values and practices of Zulu people with regard to marriage. It then examines a selection of Western marriage counselling approaches in order to establish whether the Western based marriage counselling theories that are taught and practiced by social workers in South Africa today are relevant when used with Zulu couples.

An exploration of the idea of ecodomy in Calvin's view of God and the world: Its implications for churches in South Africa today

The Faculty of Theology chose as its theme oikodome, which speaks about the fullness of life for all. This article explored this theme by looking at John Calvin�s understanding of God and the world. In this article, working from the premise of the sovereignty of God, the author attempted to show that undergirding Calvin�s theology is the idea of oikodome. The author showed that for Calvin everything in life is connected to God and thus the idea of oikodome is deeply rooted in Calvin�s theology. The author illustrated this by examining significant themes in Calvin�s teachings on the Trinitarian God, creation, humanity and providence, state and church, transformation of society, concern for the poor, and education. The author used this information to show what implications the idea of oikodome has for churches in South Africa today, especially in the context of poverty and struggle. The author calls on churches to embrace the theological foundation explicated by Calvin in their endeavour to work toward the fullness of life for all people.

Case pending: practices of inclusion and exclusion in a class of plaintiffs

Apartheid victims have had a difficult standing in South Africa in the years that followed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). In the government's perspective, the TRC had conclusively dealt with apartheid victimhood. Consequently, when victims turned to US courts in the early 2000s to sue multinational companies for their role in the perpetration of apartheid- era crimes, they faced everything from scepticism to hostility. From a different perspective, many scholars shared this scepticism, fearing the individualising power of the law. But contrary to the TRC, these apartheid litigations, as class actions, offer individual victims the chance to make their claims collectively.With the help of the extended case method, this article shows how both victims and courts struggle with the difficult relationship between structural reasons, collective action and individually experienced harm. I enquire into the logics of the law as produced in courts and into lived experience of apartheid-era victimhood in today's South Africa and suggest a refinement of theories of legalisation.

What has Lapland to do with Tshwane? Ethics as the bridge between dogmatics and historical contexts

This article explores the question: what does it mean to do theology in South Africa today? It does so in three parts based on a narrative account of the author’s relationship with Johan Heyns from 1972–1990. In the first, the focus is on the reasons for and the significance of the transition of the Dogmatologiese Werkgemeenskap, in which Heyns played an influential role to the Theological Society of South Africa, of which the author was president from 1987–1992. In the second, the author examines the reason for this transition by comparing the role of Beyers Naudé with that of Heyns in doing theology, the one working outside the white enclave of the DRC, and the other from within. He then examines the criticism of Heyns’s theology which was expressed by J.J.F. Durand and which gave rise to the title of the article. In the final part of the article, the author reflects on the narrative in responding to the initial question on doing theology in context today. He highlights the importance of social location, of the willingness to transcend boundaries, and the need to regard the task of dogmatics and ethics as an integrated whole in responding prophetically to historical contexts.

Faith communities, social exclusion, homelessness and disability: Transforming the margins in the City of Tshwane

Social exclusion is a reality in South Africa today. Its faces are diverse and varied; social exclusion can be defined in terms of social, economic, political and religious dimensions. This diversity also applies to the context of homelessness in the City of Tshwane. The research on which this article is based sought to explore the issue of social exclusion from a religious perspective; it looked closely at how social exclusion manifests from a religious perspective in the context of homelessness and disability in the City of Tshwane. The thrust of this article is captured in the following question: how do homeless people and persons with disability experience social exclusion from faith communities? What do they say about the role that faith communities should play in addressing their marginalisation? These questions were answered by doing Contextual Bible Study of Acts 3:1–10 with the homeless in the City of Tshwane, thereby allowing them space for their voices to be heard as to how the faith community should respond to their plight. It became clear in this research that faith communities should always act as transforming agents to those in the margins.

The use of Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List by professional nurses at primary healthcare clinics in the uMgungundlovu District in South Africa

One of the major challenges for the Department of Health in South Africa today is inequity and the need to provide quality integrated health care for all its citizens. Primary healthcare (PHC) has been declared as the way to achieve this goal, through the District Health System. Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and the Essential Medicines List (EML) have been developed and are used at PHC clinics and hospitals. This study explored the use of STGs and the EML by professional nurses at PHC clinics in the uMgungundlovu District, province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.A quantitative descriptive research design was used. Questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents at the PHC clinics. The researcher also reviewed the professional nurse’s registers retrospectively on the rational use of drugs.The findings of the study revealed that the respondents had a good understanding of the use of the STGs and the EML. There was no evidence of polypharmacy, and medications were prescribed according to the STGs and the EML guidelines. Areas that were suboptimal were related to prescription writing, in writing of schedules and routes of medication as indicated in facility records. The results further showed that training on the use of the STGs and EML were inadequate, which implies the need for strengthening of training programmes.

Citizenship in South Africa today. Some insights from Christian ecclesiology

This essay reflects upon the notion of citizenship in the context of post-apartheid South Africa. Citizenship discourse in South Africa takes place in the context of the movement away from apartheid, and in the context of the processes of Africanisation and globalisation. An attempt is made to make a contribution to citizenship discourse in South Africa by drawing from theological insights, specifically from the classic formulation of the four marks of the church, namely catholicity, unity, holiness and apostolicity. Based on these ecclesiological marks the following four sets of features of citizenship are identified: apostolic and inclusive citizenship; united and justice-seeking citizenship; holy and virtuous citizenship, and apostolic and responsible citizenship.

'Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me...': Reading Psalm 23:6 in conversation with John Wesley

On the understanding that the addressees of Psalm 23 experienced the challenges of poverty, corruption, injustices and conflict, the interest of this article lies at asking three cardinal questions: First, what Imago Dei does Ps 23 present in the context of poverty, corruption, injustice and conflict, and more importantly with respect to the ‘goodness and mercy’ of YHWH? Second, how does the idea of ‘goodness and mercy’ (cf. Ps 23:6) relate to John Wesley’s theology on the ‘works of mercy’ and ‘doing good’ − particularly in light of the mission imperatives of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa? Third, how could the Methodist people be the interlocutors of ‘goodness and mercy’ in South Africa today?

Evaluating academic literacy teaching at a South African university: A case study of an academic literacy programme

The official demise of apartheid in 1994 meant that historically white universities became accessible to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The poor English education received by these students at high school, however, made it difficult for them to read, write and think in English for academic purposes, an additional language to most of them. 20 years into democracy, this challenge still persists. South African universities have responded to this challenge by introducing academic English programmes to help the students bridge the English gap between high school and university. Most of these programmes require the funding provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training in the form of Teaching and Learning grants. Are the foundational and technical designs of these programmes focused on the teaching of academic literacy as it is conceptualized in the context of higher education in South Africa today? Are the teaching and learning methodologies employed in these programmes consistent with current trends in the teaching of English as a second language? Are these programmes managed and structured in a way that promotes the achievement of the very purpose for which they were formed? This paper presents a case study of an academic literacy programme offered at a South African university, whose aim was to generate answers to the questions raised above. The findings of the study reveal that the programme had shortcomings and that it needed to be redeveloped to ensure that it met students' generic academic literacy needs.

A perspective on notions of spirituality, democracy, social cohesion and public theology

This article explores the notions of spirituality, democracy, social cohesion and public theology briefly. Whilst these notions seem unrelated to each other, the article finds that they are indeed very much related especially in a conversation pertaining to the role of theology in democratic South Africa today. It argues that these notions are particularly important if one seeks the unity of a dislocated people. The word dislocation here refers to more than merely those who were dispossessed of their wealth and land, but speaks especially also to a spiritual dislocation which happened as a result of that material dislocation. Black liberation theology which has always been public must be seen to incorporate issues of the spiritual in its reflections. All this, it is argued, has pertinent repercussions for social cohesion in South Africa today.

Crimes against nature: Ecocritical discourse in south african crime fiction

Heeding Patrick Murphy's call to critics, in his book, Ecocritical explorations in literary and cultural studies: fences, boundaries and field, to study “nature-oriented mystery novels … in order to understand the degree to which environmental consciousness and nature awareness has permeated popular and commercial fiction” (2009: 143), this article examines how highly successful author, Deon Meyer, has employed crime fiction to popularize ecological issues and debates in South Africa. In this article, Meyer's first “nature-oriented” novel, the crime thriller, Blood safari (2009), is analysed. The main question asked is whether South African crime fiction deploys ecocritical discourse for mercenary reasons or whether its engagement with environmental issues constitutes a bona fide sub-category of ecocritical literature. The same rationale – understanding how “environmental consciousness and nature awareness” manifest in one of the most popular and commercially viable genres of fiction in South Africa today – informs the broader study from which this article is drawn. Some of the findings of this study, which includes a reading of Meyer's second “nature-oriented” novel, Trackers (2011), Jane Taylor's Of wild dogs, Margaret von Klemperer's Just a dead man, and Ingrid Winterbach's literary detective novel, The book of happenstance, are referred to briefly. To conclude, the contribution of “nature-oriented” crime fiction to a “localised ecocriticism” is assessed.

A critique of the music school as a conservative system of music production

This article explores the music school as a locus of musical production that is rarely subjected to critique. Departing from the viewpoints of Bruno Nettl (1995) who describes the music school as a society “ruled by deities with sacred texts, rituals, ceremonial numbers, and a priesthood”, it is hypothesised that many of the questions put forward in his Heartland excursions (1995) still pose challenges to schools of music (or tertiary departments of music) in South Africa today. While the new musicology has taken local music scholarship by storm and turned its more traditional, formalist-oriented practices upside down, it can hardly be denied that this progressive discipline is still practised within institutionalised contexts that are heavily invested in the autonomy principle. Within the South African musical landscape, this is most true for those schools of music or tertiary music departments viewed as leading institutions.The aim, therefore, of this paper is to introduce questions relevant to a critical dissection of the dichotomy between the premises of a cultural or critical musicology, and the institution of the music school as a conservative “production of belief”. Stephen Miles 1997: 744) – specifically in a country where musical pluralism is an important aspect of all tertiary education, namely, developing skills and knowledge that are relevant specifically to the complex demands of our multi-faceted society. Accordingly, the way in which the autonomy principle continues to reinforce the legitimacy of the idea of autonomous music will be investigated – a principle constructed so subtly that implicit supremacy is promoted most effectively through the unspoken practices of concert requirements, the emphasis on music competitions, faculty status, and other internationally recognised markers of musical prestige. This principle clearly underlies a pre-defined set of professionalised values forming the foundations of “successful” music institutions. However, finally it will be argued that music schools, in pursuing a truly critical mediation between music and society, should not engage only with questions of music's social meaning, but in particular with the question of how music comes to be socially meaningful.

EDITORIAL

This special issue of Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk comprises ten papers presented at the annual conference of the Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI) held in Cape Town in September 2010.The theme of the conference was Social Work educators and practitioners: partners in teaching and learning. The purpose of the conference was to bring together educators and practitioners as partners in teaching and learning. The themes of the articles reflect some of the major issues that confront teaching and learning in South Africa today.

In the Shadow of the Butcher

The year-long commemoration of the bicentennial of Grahamstown, South Africa, exposed the wide gap between heritage practitioners, broadly defined, and much of the general public in confronting a troubled past. Although experts and a few community members enthusiastically promoted social healing through a variety of creative activities, much of the public retreated from participation. The nature of a full year of commemorative events is significantly different from many other forms of heritage work in South Africa today, because it engages the general public rather than a few select individuals. The Project revealed the still strong racial divide and self-concepts of many South Africans.