Challenges Faced By South African Sociology Since 1970

Since 1970 the South African society experience wide ranging transformation. Socially, economically and politically the society changed in a profound way. South African sociology credits itself that it contributed significantly to the struggle against the apartheid regime but found the new South Africa quite a challenge to again play a significant influencing role. This article describes South African sociology over a term of four decades. The 1970’s were charaterised by the further solidification of apartheid measures but also a strong uprising in resistance to apartheid. Sociologists were active in both arenas. In the 1980’s the struggle became strongly organised in civic and worker movements building largely by critical theoretical frameworks developed by sociologists. The 1990’s brought about the new dispensation and many sociologists leaving the academia for government or consultation positions. The political role of the unions diminished and the civic movements were without direction because its local role was taken over by ANC local structures. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission brought a totally new way of interpreting the South African society about in a much more intensive and profound way than sociology did. But before sociology could recover its lost influential terrain the higher education in South Africa was transformed with a strong emphasis on career orientation and down playing of the social sciences. This was a setback for sociology but as a relevant discipline and with strong leadership in its ranks, sociology survived and is taking up the challenges faced by it presently.