A delegation of academics and postgraduate students from Stellenbosch University participated in the 30th annual South African Sociological Association (SASA) Conference, held at the University of Mpumalanga from 23 to 26 June 2025. The conference, themed “Colonial Legacies, Postcolonial Realities: South Africa after 30 Years of Democracy” brought together scholars from across the country to critically reflect on South Africa’s sociological landscape three decades into democracy.

Contributions from Stellenbosch University

Members of the SU delegation from the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology presented research across a wide spectrum of pressing sociological themes. Their work highlights the department’s strengths in legal sociology, gender and development, urban and housing studies, migration and globalisation, the sociology of education, digital activism, youth, development studies, and the sociology of sport. Collectively, these contributions illustrate the department’s commitment to engaged, critical scholarship that addresses inequality, transformation and the lived realities of communities in South Africa and the broader region.

The delegation’s contributions included:

• Dr Claire-Anne Lester (Lecturer): Balancing Power, Prejudice and Human Rights: Progressive Legalism in the Khampepe Commission into the Usindiso Building Fire
• Chiedza Made (PhD Candidate): Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Building among Smallholder Rural Women Farmers in Chiredzi District, Zimbabwe
• Adnaan Salie (MA): The Dynamics around Living in, and Working with, the New Housing Settlement of Forest Village on the Cape Flats
• Hlolohelo Khalema (MA): Chinese Retail Store Ownership in Maseru from 2000–2024
• Thukela Bekwa (MA): STEMming the Silence: isiXhosa Voices at a Historically White Academic Space
• Lethinjabula Shivambu (MA): Leveraging TikTok for Cyberactivism: A Case Study of South Africa’s Legal Victory against Israel
• Caitlin Rickerts (MA): Exploring Child and Youth Development: A Case Study of Development Projects Funded by Independent Power Producers in Sutherland, Northern Cape
• Banele Luvuno (MA): Not Just a Game: Rethinking Sport-for-Development as a Struggle over Power, Knowledge and Representation

Reflections from delegates

Leading the delegation this year was Dr. Claire-Anne Lester, who is also the SASA Convenor of Political Sociology and Law working group. For her:

“One of the best things about our department is that we prioritise supporting our graduate students to participate in these events. It places our work within a broader intellectual community, and expresses a commitment to developing the next generation of sociologists and anthropologists. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to engage students outside the university and have fun.”

 PhD candidate Chiedza Made emphasised the professional development and networking opportunities offered by the conference:

“The experience helped me to strengthen my presentation skills. This was a good opportunity to reflect on my work as I am preparing for my upcoming oral examination. The conference opened up networks for the future, and I had the opportunity to network with scholars from different universities, which is broadening options post-PhD.”

Fellow delegate Hloloheko Khalema highlighted the value of collegial engagement:

“I had the honour of attending SASA 2025. I received valuable and thought-provoking feedback from delegates alike, which will help in improving my work. The networking environment allowed for further engagement and the possibility of future academic collaborations.”

Stellenbosch University Students’ Writing Stands Out

For three years in a row, SU students have stood out. This year, MA student Ella Hodge won first runner up in the student essay competition for her paper ‘Necklacing in Contemporary South Africa: Understanding Crowd Violence and the Failure to Address Historical Trauma in New Brighton’. This follows Shaka Bob (PhD candidate) and Abigail Mostert (MA) who earned first and second place, respectively, in 2023 and 2024.

Building networks and future collaboration

The conference featured keynote addresses and panel discussions that explored how sociology can address persistent inequalities and contribute to social transformation. Professor Xolela Mangcu’s keynote, which urged scholars to broaden the definition of the sociological “archive” to include literature was a particular highlight.

The conference also provided opportunities for engagement with scholars from across South Africa and beyond, strengthening networks for future collaboration and highlighting the importance of action-oriented sociology.