A Critical Analysis of Affirmative Action in South Africa: Theological and Educational Perspectives

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in social justice action that is deliberate and affirmative to marginalised groups in South Africa. The background to this is framed against a ‘Missionary-political justice’ or 'missional-political justice' approach, the clear distinctive that characterises missional imperatives that is very clearly related to postmodern South African culture... [and] emerging churches in postmodern contexts'. The use of this approach gives a new wave of interpretation in the field of mission in order to ultimately deal with developments in South Africa generally but more particularly within ecclesiological structures. An adequate case is defended, and the implications of apartheid in the current South Africa necessitate affirmative action as justice and finally an examination of justice and restitution as founded in Scripture, as a fundamental authority is argued. This article brings a missional-political discourse into discussion with the Scriptures as well as practical theology. It also explores the intersections between the theological theme of social justice from theological and educational interactions.

Keywords

• analysis
• missional-political approach
• justice
• affirmative action
• education
• south africa