The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) at the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) recently hosted its annual two-day event— the 16th Humanities and Social Sciences International Conference (HASSIC). Held under the theme “Freedom to Think, Freedom to Create: Liberating Humanities and Social Sciences in Higher Education in the Context of African Thoughts,” the conference aimed to liberate minds and shape the future of academic discourse.
This prestigious gathering brought together esteemed researchers, policymakers, intellectuals, faculty members, and distinguished guest speakers to explore the evolving influence of the conference theme. These included Professor Nhlanhla Maake, a roving mentor on the doctoral programme of the NIHSS (National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, and Professor Ndangwa Noyoo, Full Professor and Director of the Southern African Policy and Development Nexus (SAPDN) and Research Fellow in the Department of Social Work at the University of the Free State.
HASSIC is a cornerstone event for the faculty, with its primary objective being to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration among a diverse academic audience. This year’s conference featured engaging panel discussions and dynamic breakaway sessions, where students confidently presented their research at the uMfolozi Casino in Empangeni.
At the onset, Programme Director Professor Kevin Naidoo, FHSS Deputy Dean for Research, Innovation and Internationalisation, expressed his optimism about the conference’s impact. He cited that there would be robust discussions and sharing of ideas in advancing higher education especially from the Afrocentric perspectives. This was indeed evident during the conference proceedings.
Laying the foundation for the two-day discussions, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof Allucia Shokane first reminded attendees of the essence of the theme and how it would shape the two-day engagements.
“This year, colleagues, our theme… invites us to reflect deeply on the transformative power of education and the fundamental freedoms that shape it. As we gather to share and explore new ideas, challenge assumptions, and reimagine our intellectual journey, I am reminded of the powerful words of Steve Bantu Biko, who said: ‘The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed’,” she said.
The latter, she explained, was indicative of how education is never neutral—it can either serve as a tool of liberation or a means of control. She further highlighted that “vision compels us to centre intellectual freedom in our pursuit of justice and truth, reminding us that the system concedes nothing without demand—it formulates”.
At the heart of the humanities and social sciences, Prof Shokane said, lies the power to ask critical questions, uncover untold stories, provoke meaningful dialogue, and influence both culture and policy. She stressed that academic freedom was not a luxury—it was a necessity as it empowers scholars to challenge boundaries and develop impactful solutions.
In the African context, she noted, liberation goes beyond mere access to knowledge. It involves creating learning environments that nurture creative thinking, innovation, and intellectual independence, rooted in African philosophies and indigenous knowledge systems. It also calls for the decolonisation of the curriculum.
In his keynote address, Professor Ndangwa Noyoo delivered a compelling critique of the post-apartheid South African society, arguing that the country remains deeply entrenched in the legacies of colonialism and apartheid due to the absence of a deliberate process of social re-engineering after 1994. He emphasised that the transformation of the humanities and social sciences cannot occur in isolation from the broader socio-political context.
“When you are dealing with a post-apartheid society, you cannot move from a premise that is devoid of ideology,” Professor Noyoo asserted, highlighting the need to move beyond surface-level changes and address the structural foundations of inequality.
He argued that South Africa’s current social fabric—including its academic disciplines—still bears the imprint of what he termed “settler colonialism”. According to Noyoo, this form of colonial residue continues to shape institutions and ideologies, as the colonial and apartheid architects were never fully dismantled but instead “continued to exist in the new society of the post-colonial situation”.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the enduring legacy of apartheid is upheld by certain “pillars”, which are often normalised or even critiqued by those who are privileged. This, he suggested, creates a paradox where those benefiting from the system are also the ones tasked with transforming it.
Professor Noyoo’s address called for a radical rethinking of the humanities in South Africa—one that is rooted in a conscious and inclusive process of social re-engineering, aimed at dismantling the lingering structures of oppression and privilege.
– Sbahle Dumakude
Pictures: Xolani Ncube and Samkele Sokhela
