chapter
peter vale
“victory has many fathers but failure is an orphan”
J
ohn F Kennedy’s 1961 reworking of located within language differences, a little
Count Ciano’s foreboding of his own like the situation in present-day Belgium;
death
1
nineteen years earlier has sel- while, the third niche predates apartheid
dom been used in post-apartheid South but was deeply influenced by it in paradoxi-
Africa. The reason is obvious: apartheid’s
cal ways. Second, this chapter will not di-
ending was the seminal moment in the life
rectly enter the debate around the averred
of a country still less than a century old. This
Euro-centricism of both the humanities and
chapter is not concerned with apportion-
the social sciences. Nevertheless, this issue
ing guilt or advancing congratulations over
hangs heavily over the argument; South Af-
apartheid and its ending; it is tasked with
rica will not be able to escape this conversa-
assessing the current state of the humani-
tion and, if anything, this contribution may
ties and the social sciences in South Af-
reinforce the importance of the debate.
rica. However, the rather obscure opening
Third, although mindful of the establish-
quotation does have a heuristic point: the
ment and development of the humanities
human sciences – to use a phrase whose
in South Africa as opposed to elsewhere,
meaning will shortly follow – played a cen-
this is not primarily an exercise in com-
tral role in bringing an end to apartheid but
parison. Finally, a careful reading will show
have been orphaned, and are now seen as
that there is no mention of the disciplines
failing post-apartheid South Africa.
of law or education which, in some defini-
tions, fall into the humanities. On these
two areas there is, understandably, much
Country-specific studies of scholarly disci-
to say; South Africa’s new Constitution has
plines are always risky undertakings. This is
opened up a rich debate on social issues
especially so in a field such as the humani-
which have been touched by almost every
ties. So, four preliminary markers are neces-
facet of the law. Some have, however, stood
sary. First, as far as can be ascertained, this
out and merit a mention – transitionary jus-
kind of exercise has never been attempted
tice and restorative justice. In contrast, the
previously in South Africa. One possible report-card on education is not as satisfac-
reason is that the humanities in the coun- tory. This issue remains one of the country’s
try have traditionally operated within three biggest challenges, a full thirty-three years
epistemological niches; two of which were after Soweto’s defiant pupils mounted an
1 In his 1942 diary, the Italian diplomat, and son-in-law of Mussolini, Count Caleazzo Ciano (1903-44) wrote “La victoria trova cento
padri, e nessuno vuole riconoscere l’insuccesso” (“As always, victory finds a hundred fathers but defeat is always an orphan”). The
Ciano Diaries 1939-1943. Vol 2.
211
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