A reflection on the potholes that bedevil the post-1994 South Africa’s social transformation trajectory

Abstract

Evidently the toxic or antisocial manner in which some South Africans, from all levels of society, engage one another, especially in situations of contestation on either a position of power within a group or dissension of opinion on a socio-cultural, political or economic issue, is an indication that they are from a traumatised society. One of the possible contributing factors to this culture of violence, either verbally or physically, is the historical background and social construct of a society that was orientated and sustained through the apartheid draconian system that thrived on violation of human rights. On 08 May 1996, while adopting a Constitution that was designed to form the basis for an alternative society, the people of South Africa declared as their desire ‘to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.’ Therefore, the main objective of this article is to review the meaning of the concept of transformation and renewal from both the socio-cultural underpinning and Pauline theology of transformation and renewal as presented in the Letter to Romans 12:2. Significantly, from black theology of liberation’s approach, such an exercise requires some praxis (reflection and action approach) and a sense of an absolute need for metanoia [change]. The qualitative research methodology utilised in this study identified themes and trends from reports and literature on the post-1994 South Africa’s transformation trajectory and its challenges of inequality and poverty, and leadership crisis.
Contribution: The article argues for a sincere consideration and embracing of moral values that signify an alternative society with a renewed mind, embedded in African cultural beliefs and practices alongside Paul’s theology of transformation and renewal as essentials that have the potential to contribute towards the healing of a traumatised South African society in its social transformation trajectory.