School of Social Sciences

Dear ANTH704 students,

Thank you for choosing Anthropology, whether as a subject or a future career. This module will be co-taught by Prof Mahesh Naidu and Dr Balungile Zondi. It is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to carry out anthropological research using proper data collection methods.

To give you a brief overview: South African ethnography is the study of everyday life, culture, and experiences through close observation and interaction in South African communities. It involves understanding how people live, think, and relate to one another, especially within the country’s unique historical context marked by colonialism, apartheid, and ongoing issues like inequality, race, migration, land, kinship, religion, and education.

The module will be taught virtually, starting on the 8th of August 2025 at 9:00 AM. Please find the recurring Microsoft Teams link attached for joining the sessions. Students are encouraged to come prepared to present and lead lively discussions during the virtual seminars. Any critiques offered will be aimed at strengthening your critical thinking and sharpening your ethnographic skills.

Please take the time to thoroughly review the course outline. We also highly value students who take full responsibility for their own learning.

We wish you all the best in this journey.