“It is still in our hands”- Nelson Mandela  

Miss B Ganya (Nelson Mandela University)

This statement shows that there is still so much work to do. The act of repair and transformation did not end only with the youth of 1976 and older generations. As the youth and future of our country, “it is still in our hands” to make our country great again. As young people, we have the power to create change in our communities. We all have a role to play, and we all have the ability to shape a better tomorrow. 

I believe that the Humanities and Social Sciences play a critical role in repairing and transforming society. We do not just study societies, but we contribute to shaping transformation. The humanities and social sciences help us understand how inequality affects people’s lives. The discipline contributes to inclusion by promoting diversity,, giving voice to marginalised and underrepresented groups, and challenging discrimination and stereotypes. This supports Nelson Mandela’s vision of a society where everyone has equal opportunities and a sense of belonging. 

South Africa faces a crisis of care, especially when it comes to mental health care. Most people are unable to access and afford professional help. Access is not just about going to the hospital or consulting a psychologist. It is about trust and who people feel is the best person to turn to first. In the South African context, social inequalities created by colonialism and apartheid continue to influence access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. 

My research on the exploration of the attitudes and opinions of African traditional healers regarding the idea of collaboration with healthcare practitioners who use Western medical methodologies has given me valuable insights into community-centered care and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. My research highlights the importance of recognising diverse forms of knowledge, fostering mutual respect between African traditional healers and healthcare practitioners, and ensuring that healthcare services are responsive to the needs of local communities. The research contributes to promoting culturally sensitive healthcare and addressing historical exclusions of indigenous knowledge. 

The Humanities and Social Sciences help us understand that inclusion means that indigenous knowledge systems should be treated as equal. Building a society that cares better requires that we improve community-centered care. This means that care should be designed with communities, and not simply just delivered to them. There should be a recognition that wellbeing is not only a chemical imbalance. It can be spiritual, economic, and ancestral as well. For example, a young person from Khayelitsha may need an antidepressant, but they might also need an ancestral ceremony or consult with a traditional healer. 

Building a society that cares better requires more than just expanding services. It requires recognising the diverse ways people understand health and healing. Community-centered care is strengthened when people feel heard, seen, respected, and understood. With my findings, I found that traditional healers want to be recognised as equal counterparts within the healthcare

Care is not experienced only through hospitals, clinics or consulting rooms. For many South Africans, wellbeing is also shaped by culture, spirituality, history, inequality, trust and the forms of care that feel accessible and meaningful within their communities.

As part of the What Remains in Our Hands to Change reflection series, Dr Babalwa Ganya explores mental health and wellbeing through the lens of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and community-centred care. Drawing on research examining African traditional healers’ perspectives on collaboration with healthcare practitioners, her reflection asks what it means to build a society that recognises different ways of knowing, healing and caring.

Building a caring society requires more than expanding access to healthcare services. It requires systems that listen to people’s lived realities, respect Indigenous Knowledge Systems and create meaningful dialogue among communities, traditional healers, healthcare practitioners and mental health professionals.

Knowledge Action: Support conversations and initiatives that bring communities, traditional healers, healthcare practitioners and mental health professionals into respectful dialogue.