Lecture Series | Reparative Justice and Social Justice Scholarship

In this episode, we explore Prof Saleem Badat's compelling seminar, Reparative Justice and Social Justice Scholarship. Moderated by Dr Anell Daries, the discussion examines the structural and relational harms caused by apartheid and the urgent need for reparative justice in South Africa. Prof Badat draws from personal experiences, such as his detention and torture under apartheid, as well as historical injustices, including forced removals and exclusion in education and sports, to illustrate how reparative justice must address systemic inequalities rather than rely on symbolic gestures. His insights challenge traditional ideas of inclusion and equity, urging South Africans to rethink the true meaning of transformation. The conversation highlights the role of universities and scholars in advancing reparative justice, with Prof Badat emphasizing the importance of authentic engagement and long-term commitments to generational change. He critiques post-apartheid “inclusion” that fails to confront structural inequality and calls for institutions to actively dismantle practices that perpetuate harm. This episode is a thoughtful reflection on the enduring legacies of apartheid and the transformative power of reparative justice, offering valuable insights for anyone invested in social justice and meaningful societal change. Tune in to be challenged, inspired, and moved by Prof Badat’s vision for a more equitable future. Saleem Badat Saleem Badat is a Research Professor in History at the University of the Free State. He was the first CEO of the Council on Higher Education and served as vice-chancellor of Rhodes University. As Program Director at the Mellon Foundation (2014–2019), he led arts and humanities grantmaking for African and Middle East institutions. Combining critical theory and practice, scholarship and activism, his concerns are structure and agency, reproduction and transformation, equity, redress, and social justice in and through universities, and the decolonization and transformation of universities. Prof Badat has authored some 60 book chapters, journal articles and several books, including Tennis, Apartheid and Social Justice (2023), Black Man, You are on Your Own (2009), and received honorary doctorates from the universities of the Free State, York, and Rhodes. His awards include the Inyathelo Exceptional Philanthropy Award and the HSRC-USAF award for research excellence in social justice scholarship.

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