Addressing historical wrongs in post-transition South Africa: what role for transformative justice?

Abstract

This chapter asks what role the concept of transformative justice might have in addressing the effects of historical wrongs in post-transition South Africa. Transitional justice mechanisms have largely run their course in South Africa and have been evaluated as achieving varying degrees of success. However, South Africa remains divided by profound socioeconomic inequalities, many of which have their roots in historic structural conditions. The chapter asks whether it is analytically and practically useful to consider the shortcomings of transitional justice processes, and the need to address contemporary socioeconomic injustices, in terms of transformative justice. The value added by adopting transformative justice as a frame for understanding action as well as some of the risks and difficulties attached to translating the concept into practice are considered. The chapter argues for the utility of transformative justice as an analytical tool and for its possible utility in implicitly or explicitly shaping practice.